The Wireless Monitoring Organization (WMO) along with Telecom Operators has conducted raid in Grant Road Area of Mumbai on 24.05.2024, led by Engineer, WMS (DoT), Mr. P. D. Shinde, IRRS. The purpose of this raid was to check availability of illegal boosters/antenna’s, which are sold illegally and causing grave interference in the mobile network of telecom service providers.During the raid by WMO at Gomtesh Electronics, Janardan Building, Procter Road, Grant Road (East), 8 Antennas and 05 networks boosters, being sold illegally, have been recovered.
Also, the WMO found illegal boosters having been installed and operated at various locations of Grant Road like Mahadev Forex Sashikrupa Building, Simplex Building Gupta Transport, Shri Ishwar Sadan, Cresent Building, Lucas Asger Manzil, where the WMO issued notices on the spot and also dismantled the network boosters found to have been operating illegally.
Telecom Operators have been consistently raising their concern in this regard. As per Indian Telegraph Act, 1885 and Indian Wireless Telegraphy Act, 1943 use of such wideband signal boosters is illegal and heavy penalty can be imposed by WMO.
The illegal use of such devices leads to the degradation of telecom services instead of solving signal issues. In simple words, using mobile signal boosters is like having illegal electricity or water supply connection from the main supply, which leads to improper distribution for others who are paying for the service. Telecom Operators invest heavily in acquiring spectrum for better customer experience, but the quality of services takes significant hit because of these boosters.
It interferes with the airwaves making it capable of distorting mobile signal for other customers in the vicinity of the booster. These devices are the main reasons for network issues like call drops and low data speeds. On the other hand, lot of hardships are also faced by the customers such as intermittent fluctuations, call drops, low QoS – call failure/high latency and interference.
DoT has released multiple warnings to e-commerce sellers to stop the sale of said items in the past.
What does the law say
Under the newly published Telecommunications Act, 2023, there are strict provisions for unauthorized possession of radio equipment that can lead to the following:
Chapter IX (Offences) clause 42 (3) states:
(3) Whoever,—
(a) possesses or uses without an authorization, any equipment that blocks telecommunication;
(b) uses telecommunication identifiers not allotted or permitted in accordance with sub-sections (8) and (9) of section 3;
(c) tampers with telecommunication identifiers;
(d) possesses radio equipment without an authorization or an exemption that can accommodate more than specified number of subscriber identity modules;
(e) obtains subscriber identity modules or other telecommunication identifiers through fraud, cheating or personation;
(f) willfully possesses radio equipment knowing that it uses unauthorised or tampered telecommunication identifiers,
shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years, or with fine which may extend up to fifty lakh rupees, or with both.
