NCC Kicks Against Sale, Use of GSM Boosters

By Adedapo Adesanya

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has reiterated that the sale, installation and usage of GSM boosters in the country is illegal.

The main aim of the GSM booster is to take the existing cell phone signal around places, car, office, workstation or home and amplify it. After amplification, the signal is rebroadcasted to the area with no reception or weak signal.

In a pre-enforcement notice published on its official website, the commission informed the general public, particularly banks and other financial institutions, government agencies, telecommunications service providers, private/public companies, and owners/occupiers of residential premises that the unauthorized use of the boosters was a criminal offence that could attract monetary sanction or imprisonment.

The notice said: “In exercise of its mandate of ensuring the protection of consumers, ensuring good quality of service and maintenance of technical standards of maintenance equipment, and in accordance with the provisions of section 131 (1) of the Nigerian Communications Act (NCA) 2003, the commission hereby warns the general public that it is a criminal offence to sell, install or use any equipment which may hinder network operations, or which has not been type-approved by the Commission.

“Such acts may lead to monetary sanction and/or imprisonment, or both (fine and imprisonment) as well as the confiscation of any equipment used in the illegal enhancement of network coverage.

“The commission on its part will continue to deepen its collaborative efforts with telecoms service providers to facilitate the provision of ubiquitous telecoms infrastructure necessary to guarantee good quality of service across the nation.

“In view of the above, the commission hereby gives a 14-day Pre-enforcement Notice effective from the date of this publication to any person involved in the sale, installation and use of the device, to forthwith desist from such act.”

The notice, signed by NCC’s Director, Public Affairs, Mr Ikechukwu Adinde, warned that the agency would, without further recourse and upon expiration of the deadline, take “appropriate enforcement action including, but not limited to prosecution, fine and confiscation of equipment used.”