DoT moves to remove illegal mobile signal gear

The department of telecommunications (DoT) plans to take penal action against those who don't remove or surrender so-called illegal mobile signal boosters despite being notified by the government. The action is a bid to further strengthen the mechanism to remove such illegal boosters and repeaters which cause interferences with telecom services.

In a fresh set of guidelines issued on February 27, the wireless monitoring organisation (WMO), a wing of DoT, said that once a telecom firm complains about use of such equipment at any place, the body will inspect the site along with a representative of the telco and local police and issue an infringement intimation letter (IIL) to a user, asking such equipment to be removed.

But in case the errant party, who could be a person or an entity, fails to surrender such an unauthorized booster and continues to use the equipment, action such as imposition of a fine, under lndian Telegraph Act, 1885, lndian Wireless Telegraphy Act, 1933 and lndian Wireless Telegraphy (Possession) rules, 1965, may be initiated, the DoT said. Telcos and DoT officials have been asked to create awareness among subscribers about illegal boosters. Once the booster is surrendered, the telecom firms should ensure improvement of coverage in that area. Further, the surrendered equipment should be destroyed after 30 days.