COAI seeks DoT intervention for import ban on illegal boosters

The Cellular Operators Association of India has written to Anshu Prakash, secretary, Department of Telecom to take up the issue of sale of illegal repeaters and boosters with Ministry of Commerce & Industry. Import of illegal boosters/ repeaters in the country with immediate effect. This is in continuation to DoT’s earlier notification of May 1, 2019. The association has urged that appropriate Ministries including MeitY and DPIIT may also need take action. MHA may need to issue appropriate directions to State DGPs/CPs/Chief Secretaries to take action under law against the sellers of illegal repeaters in the country.

In the letter to the secretary, COAI highlighted that,

“Boosters or repeaters, as they are commonly called, have become increasingly installed over the last few years. The equipment works by drawing in available mobile tower signals in low connectivity areas and amplifying and distributing it in small, concentrated locations, such as a building or a cluster of buildings. In the past, boosters have been used by the operators in areas, where mobile towers cannot be installed easily.

As per established norms, Telecom Service Providers (TSPs) install such repeaters after thorough inspections, only after a request is raised or there is a requirement. The TSPs make sure that installing a repeater doesn’t hamper the network coverage for people outside the distribution area and does not interfere with other TSPs allotted spectrum frequency.

The grey market outlets and online ecommerce stores are making illegal low cost repeaters available for anyone to buy and install illegally. The concern is that, such wide band devices draw in network signals to provide connectivity to a particular building or area in an unregulated manner, thereby depleting the network strength in other surrounding areas and results into call drops and depleted network quality.

The telecom industry has voiced its concerns as to how these illegal repeaters have become a major nuisance and are one of the biggest cause for customers facing mobile network issues like call drops and low data speeds, especially in densely populated localities. Available freely in electronics markets, these repeaters are installed by unauthorized agencies at homes, offices, hostels and guest houses to boost mobile signal strengths. Even landlords and home owners are illegally installing such devices in densely populated areas to attract tenants, thereby adversely impacting mobile network availability in the entire given area, be it 2G, 3G or 4G networks.

As per the specifications of boosters and repeaters being sold online, these wide band devices enhance signals across the 800 MHz, 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 2100 MHz, 2300MHz and 2500 MHz licensed spectrum bands altogether, which are assigned by Department of Telecommunications only to the licensed telecom service providers which have been bought by the TSPs by paying hefty sums.

It is pertinent to mention that these signal boosters/ repeaters fall under the definition of “Wireless Telegraphy Apparatus” and “Wireless Transmitter” under Indian Wireless Telegraph Act, and possession and sale of such equipment, without obtaining requisite permissions under the Act and Rules framed thereunder, constitutes violation of the provisions of the Act and is a punishable offence.

Since many e-commerce websites/platforms were selling these illegal equipment, we had earlier written detailed letters to the e-commerce companies informing them that possession and sale of such equipment, without obtaining requisite permissions constitutes violation of the provisions of the Telegraph Act. Though some of the e-commerce companies have terminated sale of such equipment from their website/ platform, some other continue to sell them.

We appreciate the efforts of the officers at Wireless Monitoring Organisation, Department of Telecom (DoT), for the support of relevant authorities to conduct inspection drive on several locations across Delhi, Agra, Mathura, Mumbai, Pune, Bhiwandi to take down illegal mobile signal repeaters installed by individuals. Earlier WPC had issued circular to curb such sales and also issued notices to some platforms as well as retailers.”
CT Bureau