Explained: Why telcos don’t want you to buy mobile boosters online

The Cellular Operators Association of India has asked e-commerce portals to stop selling network signal boosters and repeaters because the sale of such devices are illegal and may attract fine and imprisonment. Moreover, these instruments interfere with mobile signals leading to call drops and sluggish data speeds.

Why is it illegal?

It is illegal because boosters use spectrum for which they haven’t paid for. Its usage creates interference in the area and hence could also cause deterioration in services for other customers in the vicinity. And since most of these boosters are China-made they create signal issues for others.

While illegal signal boosters may enhance wireless coverage in a particular area, such devices, when improperly designed or installed, will cause interference with mobile networks and thus will impede communication services, including emergency calls in the community.