A team from the Wireless Monitoring Organization (WMO), in coordination with Telecom Service Providers, conducted a raid in the New Ashok Nagar Metro Station area of Delhi on 09 July 2025. The operation was led by Shri Devendra Kumar Rai, Deputy Director, International Monitoring Station, Delhi. The objective of the raid was to detect and seize the signal boosters being sold illegally in the market that have been disrupting mobile network services in the area.
The raid was carried out at Prakash Enterprise, Basement, B-850, Shivaji Marg, Church Wali Gali, New Ashok Nagar Metro Station, Delhi – 110096. A total of 21 antennas and 20 network signal boosters were recovered and seized by the WMO Team.
Telecom operators have been repeatedly raising concerns over the growing menace of illegal signal boosters, which cause severe interference in licensed spectrum and degrade the quality of telecom services. The use and sale of such unauthorized equipment is a violation under the Telecommunications Act, 2023.
Illegal mobile signal boosters disrupt the network environment by interfering with legitimate RFwaves, resulting in widespread issues such as call drops, low data speeds, and high latency for customers in the surrounding areas. In essence, using unauthorized boosters is akin to tapping into electricity or water illegally—it affects service quality for all legitimate users.
Telecom service providers make significant investments in acquiring spectrum and improving infrastructure to ensure better customer experience. However, the presence of illegal signal boosters hampers these efforts, leading to poor Quality of Service (QoS) including call failures and degraded internet speeds.
The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has issued multiple notices in the past to e-commerce platforms and sellers to curb the sale of such equipment. The public is strongly advised to refrain from using or purchasing unauthorized signal boosters.
The WMO will continue its enforcement actions to safeguard public telecom infrastructure and ensure uninterrupted, high-quality mobile services for all users.
What does the law say
Under the newly published Telecommunications Act, 2023, there are strict provisions for unauthorized possession of radio equipment that can lead to the following:
Chapter IX (Offences) clause 42 (3) states:
(3) Whoever,—
(a) possesses or uses without an authorization, any equipment that blocks telecommunication;
(b) uses telecommunication identifiers not allotted or permitted in accordance with sub-sections (8) and (9) of section 3;
(c) tampers with telecommunication identifiers;
(d) possesses radio equipment without an authorization or an exemption that can accommodate more than specified number of subscriber identity modules;
(e) obtains subscriber identity modules or other telecommunication identifiers through fraud, cheating or personation;
(f) willfully possesses radio equipment knowing that it uses unauthorised or tampered telecommunication identifiers,
shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years, or with fine which may extend up to fifty lakh rupees, or with both.