New Delhi, Feb 4 (PTI): The Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) has raised concerns over the increasing use of illegal jammers and signal boosters in educational institutions, households, and businesses, which are severely impacting the quality of mobile network services. The association, which represents telecom giants like Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel, and Vodafone Idea, has urged the Department of Telecom (DoT) to take swift action against these illegal devices.
In a formal letter, COAI has called on the DoT to notify all state governments about the unlawful use of jammers and repeaters, emphasizing that these actions violate the Telecommunications Act of 2023 and must be halted immediately.
Degradation in Network Quality
COAI Director General SP Kochhar highlighted that mobile networks have been experiencing significant degradation in signal quality, particularly in terms of the Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI), which directly affects call clarity and data speeds. Routine monitoring has revealed that the installation of illegal jammers, particularly in educational institutions and schools, is a primary cause of this disruption. Additionally, unauthorized signal boosters in homes and offices are exacerbating the issue, further deteriorating network performance.
Kochhar explained that these devices are being installed without approval from the relevant authorities, which not only violates regulations but also compromises the quality of service for consumers.
Illegal Boosters Available Online
The industry body has also pointed out that illegal signal boosters are being sold openly on e-commerce platforms like Amazon India. While the Wireless Planning and Coordination (WPC) Wing has taken some steps to curb this by issuing notices to online retailers, the sale of such devices continues unabated, according to COAI.
"We appreciate the WPC's efforts to address the problem, but it remains concerning that despite these notices, illegal repeaters and jammers are still available for purchase on online platforms," Kochhar said. He urged the government to impose stricter penalties or issue further notices to platforms involved in the sale of these devices.
Legal Consequences for Illegal Devices
The Telecommunications Act of 2023 specifies that the illegal possession of any equipment that disrupts telecommunications services is punishable by imprisonment for up to three years, a fine of up to fifty lakh rupees, or both. COAI has urged the DoT to take immediate action, including the formation of clear rules to facilitate enforcement, from the initial complaint by telecom service providers to the eventual removal of illegal equipment.
Furthermore, COAI has requested the DoT to communicate with state chief secretaries, ensuring that all jurisdictions are aware of the legal implications and are taking the necessary steps to prevent the use of such equipment. The association also called for a review of past deployments by Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) and Electronics Corporation of India Limited (ECIL) to ensure they comply with official guidelines.
A Call for Stronger Enforcement
In addition to tackling the sale of illegal equipment, COAI has asked for a more digitized and streamlined process to handle complaints related to jammers and boosters, ensuring quicker identification, removal, and legal action against violators.
By addressing the issue of illegal jammers and repeaters, COAI aims to protect consumers from the deteriorating mobile service quality and to ensure the smooth functioning of India's telecom infrastructure in line with the Telecommunications Act of 2023.
In a formal letter, COAI has called on the DoT to notify all state governments about the unlawful use of jammers and repeaters, emphasizing that these actions violate the Telecommunications Act of 2023 and must be halted immediately.
Degradation in Network Quality
COAI Director General SP Kochhar highlighted that mobile networks have been experiencing significant degradation in signal quality, particularly in terms of the Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI), which directly affects call clarity and data speeds. Routine monitoring has revealed that the installation of illegal jammers, particularly in educational institutions and schools, is a primary cause of this disruption. Additionally, unauthorized signal boosters in homes and offices are exacerbating the issue, further deteriorating network performance.
Kochhar explained that these devices are being installed without approval from the relevant authorities, which not only violates regulations but also compromises the quality of service for consumers.
Illegal Boosters Available Online
The industry body has also pointed out that illegal signal boosters are being sold openly on e-commerce platforms like Amazon India. While the Wireless Planning and Coordination (WPC) Wing has taken some steps to curb this by issuing notices to online retailers, the sale of such devices continues unabated, according to COAI.
"We appreciate the WPC's efforts to address the problem, but it remains concerning that despite these notices, illegal repeaters and jammers are still available for purchase on online platforms," Kochhar said. He urged the government to impose stricter penalties or issue further notices to platforms involved in the sale of these devices.
Legal Consequences for Illegal Devices
The Telecommunications Act of 2023 specifies that the illegal possession of any equipment that disrupts telecommunications services is punishable by imprisonment for up to three years, a fine of up to fifty lakh rupees, or both. COAI has urged the DoT to take immediate action, including the formation of clear rules to facilitate enforcement, from the initial complaint by telecom service providers to the eventual removal of illegal equipment.
Furthermore, COAI has requested the DoT to communicate with state chief secretaries, ensuring that all jurisdictions are aware of the legal implications and are taking the necessary steps to prevent the use of such equipment. The association also called for a review of past deployments by Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) and Electronics Corporation of India Limited (ECIL) to ensure they comply with official guidelines.
A Call for Stronger Enforcement
In addition to tackling the sale of illegal equipment, COAI has asked for a more digitized and streamlined process to handle complaints related to jammers and boosters, ensuring quicker identification, removal, and legal action against violators.
By addressing the issue of illegal jammers and repeaters, COAI aims to protect consumers from the deteriorating mobile service quality and to ensure the smooth functioning of India's telecom infrastructure in line with the Telecommunications Act of 2023.
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