Daraz at it again: Openly selling illegal GSM boosters

Karamat Mughal

Islamabad: Despite a ban on the sale, purchase, distribution, and import of GSM signal boosters by PTA, and multiple intimations to the e-commerce website by authorities, Daraz is openly selling the illegal GSM boosters again.

GSM boosters increase the mobile signals. However, these boosters also interrupt the service of mobile operators at the same time. In other words, this is a signal booster for mobile phones which may be called an antenna.

A few months ago too, Daraz and a few more e-commerce websites in Pakistan were caught selling these illegal products but removed them from their sites after the issue was highlighted. As the products are on sale on Daraz again, it raises questions about the site’s moderation and regulation of the sale of such products.

The law of PTA strictly prohibits the use of GSM boosters to boost signals for mobile phones. This means that anyone who involves in the import and use of such products can find themselves facing legal action as per the Pakistan Telecommunication (Re-organization) Act 1996.

Such stringent laws exist, because signal boosters may enhance wireless coverage in a particular area, but more often than not, they will cause interference with mobile networks’ frequency band.

Mobile operators in the country say that this is a big problem for them to operate and provide greater coverage, better cellphone reception.

Illegal signal boosters have thwarted their efforts to deliver service quality. They also create signal issues.

PTA has already approached the Federal Board of Revenue urging to take measures to stop illegal import of GSM boosters which could interfere with the frequency band of mobile companies and in the area where the amplifier is located.

In a letter to the FBR member Customs, the Telecom Authority had conveyed only licensed cellular mobile operators (CMOs) can install such devices on consumer premises.

However, the regulator has noticed through field experience, operators’ complaints, and subsequent field monitoring by the Frequency Allocation Board that the use of sub-standard ‘GSM boosters/amplifiers/repeaters’ by the general public is on the rise.

The government has allowed only CMOs to import GSM amplifiers. The regulator has observed that GSM amplifiers are available in the open market and installation of such devices by end-users is leading to rapid interference in existing mobile operators and PTA licenses which could lead to poor service. And the poor quality of service ends.