Lok Sabha Question No. 3603 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-01-02
Subject: Chinese Signal Boosters
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: DARSHANA VIKRAM JARDOSH

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3603 TO BE ANSWERED ON 2 ND  JANUARY, 2019

## CHINESE SIGNAL BOOSTERS

†3603. SHRIMATI DARSHANA VIKRAM JARDOSH:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Chinese  signal  boosters  are  being  purchased  to  improve  mobile network range in the country and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the Services of Telecom Service Providers (TSPs) are getting affected by  such  equipments  and  if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the  steps  taken  by  the Government in this regard;
- (c) the  number  of  such  boosters  identified/detected  in  the  country  especially  in Surat, State/UT-wise and the legal action taken by the Government thereon; and
- (d) the  efforts  made  by  the  Government  to  spread  awareness  regarding  the disruption caused by these equipments along with the steps taken by the Government to check the illegal use thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE (IC) OF THE MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS & MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS (SHRI MANOJ SINHA)

- (a) No information regarding purchase of signal boosters of Chinese make has been received by the Department of Telecommunications.
- (b) Complaints  from  the  Telecom  Service  Providers  regarding  interference  due  to unauthorized  boosters  installed  by  private  entity/individuals  are  received  from  time  to time. Such interference complaints by Telecom Service Providers are taken on priority by  carrying  out/undertaking  on  the  spot  monitoring  and  inspection.  The  unauthorized boosters so identified/detected are deactivated and notice is served to such individuals/entity.

(c) & (d) A total of 101 notices have been issued to the entities/individual users of unauthorized boosters and 63 such boosters have been confiscated/seized/deactivated. The details are as given below:

|   S.No. | Name of State   | Name of Monitoring Station     |   Number of notices served | Number of unauthorised boosters and accessories confiscated/seized/deactivated   |
|---------|-----------------|--------------------------------|----------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|       1 | Delhi           | Delhi                          |                         45 | 16                                                                               |
|       2 | Gujarat         | WMS Ahmedabad (for Surat city) |                         12 | 19                                                                               |
|       3 | Maharashtra     | Mumbai                         |                          8 | 28                                                                               |
|       4 | Punjab          | Jalandhar                      |                         19 | Nil                                                                              |
|       5 | Tamil Nadu      | Chennai                        |                         14 | Nil                                                                              |
|       6 | Telangana       | Hyderabad                      |                          3 | Nil                                                                              |

In  Surat,  monitoring  and  inspection  was  carried  out  in  June  2018  wherein  12 notices were served and 19 boosters with accessories were confiscated/seized.

It has also been found that some online/e-commerce companies are dealing with unauthorized  wireless  equipment  including  boosters.  Such  companies  have  been directed  to  ensure  compliance  to  the  licensing/statutory  requirements  on  telecom equipment being sold or purchased. The directions have been placed on the website ( www.dot.gov.in) for information.

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