DoT added that it is unlawful to possess, sell, and/or use mobile signal repeaters by any entity other than the licensed telecom service providers.
The Department of Telecommunications, or DoT, has warned all e-commerce firms from selling or facilitating the sale of wireless jammers on their online platforms.
“It has been stated that the use of cellular signal jammer, GPS blocker or other signal jamming device is generally illegal, except specifically permitted by Government of India,” DoT said in an official statement. “Private sector organizations and/ or private individuals cannot procure/ use jammers in India.”
The statement added that it is unlawful to possess, sell, and/or use mobile signal repeaters by any individual or entity other than the licensed telecom service providers.
Wireless jammer intentionally jams authorized signals such as cellular communications (2G/3G/4G etc.), personal communications (WiFi etc.), and navigational communications (GPS etc.) by radiating strong radio energy of similar frequencies, according to another advisory issued by DoT.
On the other hand, a mobile signal booster or repeater is a kind of amplifier, apparently used to improve cell phone signal reception, but unauthorized use of the same can adversely interfere with, and disrupt public telecommunication services by jeopardizing the quality and coverage of such services, it added.
DoT’s warning comes ahead of the 5G spectrum auction due later this month wherein the Indian government will sell a total of 72 GHz of the spectrum, across multiple bands, with a validity period of 20 years.
