Concerned over mobile signals crossing the international border, the department of telecom is planning to take action against telecom operators such as Bharti Airtel, Bharat Sanchar Nigam, Reliance Communications, Tata Teleservices, Hutch, and Spice Communications, which have set up mobile towers within the 10-km buffer zone along the international border. The penalty for the violation could be monetary or see termination of licence or both.
In a note that may be sent to the Telecom Commission for action, DoT has pointed out that there are more than 100 such Base Tower Stations.
The home ministry has been raising the issue and had requested the DoT to discontinue the services provided through these towers immediately. A top DoT official said discussions were continuing on the matter.
According to the DoT, operators have installed 103 towers within the 10 km zone in the states of Punjab, Uttaranchal, Bihar, UP, West Bengal, and the North East.
Following an inspection carried out by the DoT on the Indo-Bangladesh border in September, it has been recommended that henceforth surprise checks be carried out and operators need not be asked for the factual status.
About 560 applications of mobile operators for a 'No Objection' from the home ministry in this connection are pending. The Committee of Secretaries with which the applications are pending has constituted a committee to check if it is technically possible to ensure that signals from such towers do not cross the international border.
Mobile operators can raise towers on the international border with prior permission from the DoT. So far, nod has been given for only nine base stations in the North East and Bihar.
According to licence requirements, telecom operators are not allowed to install BTS or cell sites within a 10 km width along the international border or ensure that signals do not cross the border.
