Telecom operators have written to the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) requesting an immediate intervention on illegal sales/ usage of wireless devices including Repeaters and Jammers. The telcos have complained that this “menace” is deteriorating mobile networks service quality, resulting in call drops and low data speed for consumers.

They also urged the DoT to issue notices or impose penalties on online platforms engaged in sale of illegal repeaters/ jammers.

“The telecom industry has voiced its concerns multiple times as to how the possession of illegal repeaters and jammers has become a major nuisance, and is one of the biggest causes for customers facing mobile network issues like call drops and low data speeds, especially in densely populated localities,” industry representative Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) said.

COAI represents telecom majors including Bharti Airtel, Reliance Jio and Vodafone-Idea.

The association said that there were instances wherein during the routine monitoring of the network, degradation in Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) Parameter was observed.

“Upon further analysis for such degradation, it surfaced that the degradation of RSSI parameters is primarily due to installation of jammers by educational institutions/schools, without obtaining necessary approval from the competent authority and installation of illegal boosters by households/companies, etc,” it said.

The telcos complained that despite Wireless Power Consortium (WPC) issuing notices to the eCommerce companies, to stop the sale and/or facilitation of sale of wireless jammers on their online platforms, such boosters are still available for sale on online platforms including Amazon.

“It is highly concerning that despite the WPC’s efforts, such boosters are still available for sale on online platforms,” the COAI said mentioning a link of Amazon.

Therefore, COAI has urged the DoT to take immediate steps towards the formation of adequate Rules for adoption by all concerned entities citing the provisions of the Telecommunications Act, 2023, including digitisation of the end-to-end process for better enforcements, starting from complaint by telecom service provider (TSP) till removal of such equipment.

Also, the Department should write to all State Chief Secretaries that use of illegal repeaters/ jammers is an offence under the Telecommunications Act, 2023 and to stop use of such illegal equipment.

It further suggested the DoT to write to Bharat Electronic Limited and Electronics Corporation of India Limited to deploy jammers only in consonance with the Jammer Guidelines issued by the Cabinet Secretariat.

“For any deployment in the past beyond the said guidelines, details of such deployment be shared with DoT and immediately uninstalled,” COAI added.