‘Online players selling wireless devices illegally’

Despite repeated notices from the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), several major e-commerce players such as Amazon.in and Flipkart continue to sell wireless equipment, including mobile signal boosters and repeaters.

According to the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI), an association of mobile services providers, telecom equipment suppliers, internet services providers and other digital technology companies, the e-commerce platforms have been selling such devices to “enhance signals” in certain telecom spectrum bands, assigned only to service providers licensed by the Central government under the Indian Telegraph Act.

Sale of such equipment, without a valid licence, is an offence and attracts penal action including a fine and imprisonment of up to three years or more, the COAI said.