In the recently issued Jammer Policy, in order to stop the installation of unauthorized and illegal jammers, it stated that institutions and individuals are prohibited to fix these instruments without clearance and No-Objection Certificate (NOC) from Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA).
Policy directs the sellers to not to sell their equipment to general public and organizations expect those holding valid authorization/ NOC from PTA.
In case any such unauthorized and if illegal jammers are found, the regulator will take strict action against violators and owners under provision of PTA (Re-Organization) Act 1996 and directives of Ministry of Information and Technology and Telecommunication (MoITT).
The surging numbers of mobile phone jammers being installed at various places to curb unwanted noises of ringtones have blocked the signals of operators’ network, impacting negatively on telephony quality services in the surrounding areas.
Mobile phone jammers fixed particularly in mosques, banks and hospitals, to stop disturbance created by mobile handsets’ loud noises of the careless and forgetful customers despite verbal and written instruction of its utility prohibition.
These jamming instruments create its waves’ cycle that disables frequencies of GSM networks within certain areas, resulting mobile sets fail to accept signals of cellular services.
Analysts said the jammers coverage areas vary from half to two kilometer – mostly depending on the environment and frequencies of the GSM networks.
They said that anti-signal equipments are active mostly in the areas where the cellular phone towers are established at distant places. Hence, the customers face inconvenience in those areas while receiving calls, SMS, MMS and Emails on their respective networks, they added.
The regulator has dismantled scores of jammers from mosque in different cities, however, there is proper need of monitoring of its sales and usage and need of awareness towards legal permission by the users.
On the other hand, the users of telephony services should act responsibility and avoid using mobile phones particularly in mosque that causes disturbance in prayers.
