DoT flags unauthorized sale of Mobile Signal Booster by e-commerce firms
The Department of Telecom (DoT) on Friday wrote to the Customs department flagging unauthorized sales of Mobile Signal Boosters by e-commerce firms and sought strict implementation of import rules to curb such practices. Mobile Signal Boosters are considered the major reason for call drops and India had already banned them. But through e-Commerce, many types of Mobile Signal Boosters, specially imported from China, have found their way into India, for the past so many years.
The telecom department in a letter to the Chief Commissioner of Customs and Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) chairman said that it has come to its notice and has also been reported by the Intelligence Bureau about certain models of walkie-talkie sets available for sale on some e-commerce platforms without any compliance to the regulatory requirement of the department. The mobile signal booster and walkie-talkie sets fall under the category of transmission apparatus incorporating reception apparatus which are not permitted to be imported without a license.
In February, the wireless technology monitoring group of the DoT brought down 140 illegal mobile signal boosters during a week-long raid in the national capital.
“While the department is continuing to take appropriate action in this regard in cases of violation, but to restrict the inflow of such unauthorized wireless equipment including mobile signal booster/ repeater in the country, it is requested to strictly enforce the provisions enshrined in the import policy of DGFT in this regard,” the letter said. In February, the wireless technology monitoring group of the DoT brought down 140 illegal mobile signal boosters during a week-long raid in the national capital. The raids were conducted between February 18 and 24 in several parts of Delhi, including Connaught Place, Hauz Khas, and Nehru Place. Last year, DoT officials seized and removed around 400 illegal mobile signal boosters, resulting in call drops.
The unauthorized mobile signal repeaters and walkie-talkies can help anti-social elements set up illegal communication infrastructure. Most people also use this equipment to boost mobile signals in their premises which adversely impacts telecom networks in surrounding areas resulting in call drops, poor call quality, etc. Most of this equipment are illegally imported from China, Taiwan, South Korea, Singapore, and Malaysia.
“Further, notice has also been served to various e-commerce platforms to refrain themselves from selling/ facilitating the selling of unauthorized wireless equipment including signal repeaters/ boosters. Few of such e-commerce platforms have complied with the instructions. However, such unauthorized wireless equipment including mobile signal repeaters/ boosters are still available for sale on some of the e-commerce platforms and in the grey market,” the letter said.
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Why not lock up importing such net working items having name of the product, model, make and serial numbers on ICEGATE with precision? Let the authorities take technical write up from the importers. Anti dumping has been successful.
If such items are approved under various government of India schemes,a mechanism can be implemented under the DGFT/ CBIC.
Imports are done via Courier modes also and put a blanket ban on such items helping anti-social and anti-Indian elements. Calls drops have been frequent for over a year now.