New Delhi: The Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI), representing telecom giants such as Jio, Airtel and Vodafone Idea, has welcomed the government’s move to ban the sale of illegal signal boosters and wireless communication devices on e-commerce platforms.
The COAI has called this move a major step towards improving mobile network quality across the country.
Until recently, various e-commerce websites were openly selling unauthorised radio equipment, including signal boosters, walkie-talkies and jammers, often used by residential complexes and commercial establishments.
These devices were found to interfere with legitimate mobile networks, causing significant disruption to services provided by telecom operators.
The Department of Consumer Affairs and the Department of Telecommunications have now jointly acted to prohibit the online sale of such equipment, a decision COAI hailed as both timely and necessary.
“We sincerely thank the Department of Consumer Affairs and Department of Telecommunications for recognising the gravity of the issue and responding with these decisive measures,” COAI said in an official statement.
The industry body also pointed to Clause 4(i)(b) of the updated e-commerce guidelines, which explicitly restricts the sale of such unauthorised wireless devices.
“This clause is a strong validation of our concerns and advocacy. We believe that this proactive step will go a long way in ensuring quality of service and upholding consumer rights,” COAI added.
The ban is expected to significantly reduce network interference and improve overall service reliability for mobile users, ensuring a more seamless experience in both urban and rural areas.
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