NTC bans sale, possession, use of cell phone jammers

MANILA, Philippines - The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) has banned the sale, purchase, importation, possession or use of cellular phone signal-jamming devices.

However, the NTC said exemptions may be granted on a case-to-case basis for meritorious reasons subject to strict conditions.

NTC deputy commissioner Jaime Fortes Jr. refused to name organizations or companies seeking such permits from the NTC.

Several organizations and firms have requested authorization to use signal-jamming devices but none has been approved yet, he added.

Signal jammers have the capacity to prevent the transmission of signals from automated counting machines in the May 10 elections, Fortes said.

Cellular phone jamming devices, as defined in the NTC circular, are radio instruments used to prevent cellular or mobile phones from receiving signals from or transmitting signals to base stations.

Signal-jamming devices create temporary “dead zones.”

The NTC said any person selling, purchasing, importing, possessing or using cellular phone jamming devices would be dealt with in accordance with law.

Edgardo Cabarios, NTC common carriers authorization department director, said they have the equipment to monitor jamming devices and trace their locations.

However, only one set of monitoring devices is deployed in each of the NTC’s 15 regional offices nationwide, he added.

Cabarios said a set of monitoring equipment costs between P3 million and P5 million.

These devices also have limitations on the area that they can survey, he added.

Cabarios said the NTC does not have the ability to “unjam” signals or to directly counter an operational signal-jamming device.

Telecommunication firms cannot also prevent the use of signal-jamming devices, he added.

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) said it would prevent jammers from interrupting the transmission of election results to its central office in Manila.

Earlier, the Comelec said it had received reports that over 5,000 signal-jamming devices had been imported illegally.