DoT: Non-compliance to the rules regarding license-exempt PMR radios

The Department of Telecommunications notified that Personal Mobile Radio (PMR) devices are permitted to work without any license in the frequency band 446.0-446.2 MHz with a maximum transmit power of 500 mW.

“Such PMR devices mean hand-held portable radio with no base station or repeater use and operates in peer-to-peer mode. However, such license-exempt PMR devices (popularly known as license free walkie-talkie, or 446 MHz license- free radio etc.) require type approval from the WPC Wing, DoT,” DoT said in the circular.

During a recent spectrum monitoring drive undertaken by the Wireless Monitoring Organisation (WMO) DoT observed that few of such PMR devices (Smart Talky- M/s Vertel, Aspera, Beta 8-9 LF, PCOM etc.) though type approved, but are being operated with higher (than permissible) transmit power of around 5 Watt, in violation with the relevant rules/ Gazette Notification.

“Manufacturers (and/ or Agencies on their behalf) obtaining ETA certificate of such PMR 446 MHz radios/ devices are hereby advised that they may undertake internal quality assurance check/ audit and necessary corrective measures to ensure that such devices/ radios operate in compliance to the relevant rules,” DoT added.

DoT states the ‘Terms and Conditions’ of the ETA certificates issued for the aforementioned radios/ devices:

“That, the certificate will not be valid in case any change in the above parameters and not conforming to the relevant Gazette Notification; and

That, use of such equipment in case not conforming to above notification will require a specific wireless operating license, as applicable from this Ministry.”

“Wireless Monitoring Organisation, DoT will conduct special drive to verify that the aforementioned radios/ devices operate in conformity with the relevant rules. Full cooperation, as required, may be extended to the monitoring team while conducting such tests. Finding of non-compliance during such monitoring may lead to revocation of the ETA certificate issued and initiation of other legal proceedings as per provision under Section 20 of the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885 and Section 6 of the Indian Wireless Telegraphy Act, 1933 & other relevant provisions,” concluded DoT.
CT Bureau