DoT conducts raids across Delhi to check illegal signal boosters

Wireless Monitoring Organisation, Department of Telecom (DoT), with the support of relevant authorities and mobile operators conducted is conducting raids on several locations across Delhi to take down illegal mobile signal repeaters installed by individuals.

These locations included both residential and commercial establishments in Laxmi Nagar, Paharganj, Greater Kailash, Inderpuri, Adarsh Nagar, Model Town, Patel Nagar, South Extension, Chandni Chowk, Rohini, Sant Nagar, Lajpat Nagar, Rajouri Garden, Civil Lines, Ashok Vihar and Rajendra Nagar. The identified locations also include NCR region, i.e. Gurugram and Noida. Raids were also conducted in Karol Bagh where such illegal equipment is being sold. With this exercise in Delhi, 32 illegal repeaters were removed and 46 notices were given to remove the identified ones with immediate effect. Heavy fines may be imposed on owners of several premises and notices were served to the rest.

Illegal mobile signal repeaters have become a major nuisance and are one of the biggest reasons for customers facing network issues like call drops and low data speeds. These illegal repeaters are installed by individuals/establishments at homes/offices/PG/Guest houses to boost mobile signals. These illegal equipment interfere with mobile networks, impacts signal quality and degrades network experience in the complete area. Mobile operators, who are making record investments in purchasing spectrum and rolling out network equipment are grappling with this challenge and have called out the authorities to crack down on these installations and take strict action.

The DoT along with the authorities may also decide to impose heavy penalties on sellers of this illegal equipment. Recently, on the request of the COAI, several e-commerce players stopped the sale of such illegal network boosters on their platforms.