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Hans India
4 days ago
- Business
- Hans India
COAI welcomes govt's move to stop illegal signal boosters on e-commerce platforms
New Delhi: The Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) on Monday welcomed the government's new guidelines aimed at stopping the online sale of illegal mobile signal boosters and wireless jammers. The guidelines, issued by the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) on May 27, are seen as a major step to improve network quality and protect consumers from the harmful effects of unauthorised radio equipment. The new rules, officially titled 'Guidelines for the Prevention and Regulation of Illegal Listing and Sale of Radio Equipment including Walkie Talkies on E-Commerce Platforms, 2025', clearly ban the listing and sale of mobile signal boosters and jammers on online shopping platforms. This is outlined in Clause 4(i)(b), which directly addresses these devices, citing their role in causing network disruptions and customer complaints. The COAI has long raised concerns about the unchecked sale and use of these illegal devices. According to the industry body, these signal boosters are often installed without permission in homes and commercial buildings, leading to serious problems in mobile network performance for licensed telecom operators. COAI Director General, Lt Gen Dr. S.P. Kochhar (retd), thanked both the Department of Consumer Affairs and the Department of Telecommunications for taking strong action on this issue. "Clause 4(i)(b) of the guidelines is a strong validation of our concerns and advocacy. We believe this proactive step will go a long way in ensuring quality of service and upholding consumer rights," he said. The COAI urged all e-commerce companies to fully follow the new rules and called for strict enforcement to ensure compliance. The association also expressed its commitment to working with the government and other stakeholders to protect the country's digital communications infrastructure. The move is expected to improve mobile network services and reduce interference caused by illegal radio equipment, benefiting both telecom providers and millions of mobile users across India.
Hans India
29-04-2025
- Hans India
Telecom industry backs govt move to tackle spam calls, messages from OTT platforms
The Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) on Tuesday welcomed the government's decision to step in and address the growing menace of spam and scam calls originating from Over-The-Top (OTT) platforms. The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has decided to take the lead on this issue, as was conveyed during a recent meeting of the Joint Committee of Regulators (JCoR). The industry sees this as a much-needed move, especially since spam and scam activities are increasingly shifting to OTT communication apps like WhatsApp, Signal, and others. While the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), along with Telecom Service Providers (TSPs), has been tightening regulations around Unsolicited Commercial Communications (UCC) on traditional telecom networks, similar control over OTT platforms has been missing. According to COAI, the MeitY's involvement shows a shift in thinking, where the responsibility of regulating digital platforms will now lie with the relevant ministries, instead of unfairly placing the burden on telecom operators. The COAI said this is important because TSPs have limited control over what happens on OTT apps, even if the user is the same. COAI Director General Lt. Gen. S. P. Kochhar explained the challenge using a simple example: a telecom operator can trace a phone number to a particular city and provide legal assistance if needed. "But when an OTT app is used on a different device, it becomes harder to track, as the app and the SIM card are no longer linked after installation," Kochhar stated. While the telecom number can only be traced to the city where the mobile is residing, there are no ways to trace the activities of the OTT Communication App which was initially issued on the mobile number, but is now running off a separate handset, while the SIM is on a different handset, he added. "This happens because the App and the SIM are not tightly bound together after the installation of the App," Kochhar mentioned. According to the COAI, another rising threat is steganography, where harmful content is hidden inside regular files like images or documents. This makes it easier for cybercriminals to carry out fraud and attacks without being detected. The COAI stressed that strong cybersecurity measures are needed across telecom and OTT platforms. The industry body believes that a unified set of rules for all digital communication players is the only way to protect people from spam, fraud calls, and messages. "The aim should be clear -- to ensure a safer digital environment for users and reduce the nuisance of spam and scam communications as much as possible," the COAI said.
