The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has issued a new public advisory on the use of signal boosters, repeaters, and wireless jammers in India. The advisory says that the use of wireless jammers, signal jammers, or GPS blockers is illegal in India with an exception for those who have been specifically permitted by the Government of India.
Private sector organizations or individuals cannot procure or use jammers in India. It is also now illegal to sell or distribute these devices in India.
Wireless jammer or signal jammer blocks signals such as cellular communications, personal communications, and navigational communications (GPS) by radiating strong radio energy of similar frequencies. According to Indian Wireless Telegraphy Act 1933 (IWTA 1933), a license is required to possess and use the jammers in India.
Wireless jammers can only be procured by ministries, state governments, Union Territory administrations, defense forces, and Central Police Organizations.
DoT advisory also talks about the use of signal boosters. Signal boosters can amplify the cell phone signal reception, but they can also disrupt public telecommunication services and poses a risk and disruption to crucial calls made by the public to organizations. Advisory says that only licensed telecom service providers can use signal boosters in the country. It is also unlawful to sell and distribute signal boosters in the country.
Selling and distributing signal jammers and signal boosters is a punishable offense.
DoT says that it had already warned e-commerce websites in January from selling or facilitating the sale of wireless jammers on their platforms. The direction to e-commerce was issued after the central government noticed that e-commerce platforms were selling wireless jammers.
