Formulate rules under Telecom Act to halt illegal sale of signal jammers: Telcos to DoT

India’s telecom industry has urged the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) to formulate rules under Telecommunications Act, 2023, to halt the illegal sales of signal boosters and jammers on e-commerce platforms, as such equipment is negatively impacting subsriber experience, and also advocated for penalising the offending entities.

“We sincerely request 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 enforcement, starting from complaint by telecom operator till the removal of such equipment,” SP Kochhar, Director-General of Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) said in a letter to Neeraj Mittal, Secretary, DoT.

ETTelecom has reviewed a copy of the letter dated January 30, 2025.

This comes against the backdrop of recent incidents in some states concerning the installation of illegal jammers to halt mobile network signals for unexplained reasons which are adversely affecting the Quality of Service (QoS) for mobile users.

The Delhi-based association represents top telco incumbents Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel, and Vodafone Idea (Vi) as well as gear makers such as Nokia, Ericsson, and Ciena, among others.

COAI has urged the telecom department to communicate to all state chief secretaries that the use of illegal repeaters and jammers is an offense under the Telecommunications Act, 2023.

It has also sought directions from the DoT to Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) and the Electronics Corporation of India Limited (ECIL) that jammers should be deployed only in consonance with the relevant 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 said, adding that notices should be issued or penalties imposed on online platforms engaged in the sale of illegal repeaters and jammers.

Chapter IX, clause 42 (3), Chapter IX, clause 42 (7), Chapter IX, clause 43, and Chapter X, clause 48 under the Telecom Act deal with the possession and usage of such equipment.

Moreover, Chapter IX, clause 42 (3) prescribes imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years, or with a fine which may extend up to fifty lakh rupees, or with both, for offenders.

“We appreciate the efforts done by the WPC (Wireless Planning Commission) to curb the issue by issuing notice to the e-commerce companies to stop the sale and/or facilitation of sale of wireless jammers on their online platforms,” Kochhar said. “However, it is highly concerning that despite the WPC’s efforts, such boosters are still available for sale on online platforms.”