Mobile phone jammer

Example of a mobile phone jammer, produced by Jammerspro

A mobile phone jammer or blocker is a device which deliberately transmits signals on the same radio frequencies as mobile phones, disrupting the communication between the phone and the cell-phone base station, effectively disabling mobile phones within the range of the jammer, preventing them from receiving signals and from transmitting them. Jammers can be used in practically any location, but are found primarily in places where a phone call would be particularly disruptive because silence is expected, such as entertainment venues.

Because they disrupt the operations of legitimate mobile phone services, the use of such blocking devices is illegal in many jurisdictions, especially without a licence. When operational, such devices also block access to emergency services.

Legality

Since these jammers actively broadcast radio signals, they are illegal in many jurisdictions.

• Australia: Illegal to operate, supply or possess ^[1] unless the user has a PMTS C telecommunications licence under the Radiocommunications (Interpretation) Determination 2000. ^[2]
• Brazil: Illegal, but installation in prisons has been proposed. ^[3]
• Canada: Illegal under sections 4, 9, and 10 of the Radiocommunication Act, ^[4] except by federal law-enforcement agencies who have obtained approval. ^[5]
• European Union: Illegal, according to the European Commission's "Interpretation of the Directive 1999/5/EC". ^[6]
• France: Legal until 2012 in cinemas, concert halls and performance venues, but illegal since 2012. ^[7]
• India: Illegal except for use by security and military agencies, and use in prisons, theatres, mosques, and schools with prior permit and jamming limited to the perimeter with zero leakage. ^{[8] [9]}
• Iran: Illegal to use without permits.^{[ citation needed ]}
• Israel: Illegal.^{[ citation needed ]}
• Italy: Illegal both to own ^[10] and use, ^[11] according to the Penal Code offenders are liable to be punished with imprisonment for up to eight years. Can be used in exceptional cases by Italian law enforcement agencies, such as Polizia Di Stato and Carabinieri.
• Malaysia: Illegal to use. Offenders jamming the cellular network frequency in their premises can be fined a maximum of RM500,000 or jailed a maximum of five years, or both. ^[12]
• New Zealand: Illegal to sell, manufacture or use. ^[13] Legal inside prisons by Department of Corrections, ^[14] although are no longer used. ^[15]
• Pakistan: Illegal to use without permission. Individuals or organisations must obtain No Objection Certificates (NOCs) before installation of such devices. ^[16]
• Russia: Legal, planned to be used in schools. ^[17]
• Singapore: Illegal to manufacture, import, use or sell radio jamming equipment other than by or for supply to a permitted person. ^[18]
• South Africa: Illegal, except for national security agencies. No other organisation is allowed to jam cellular signals, and any device which is used to jam signals is illegal. ^[19]
• Sweden: Illegal except inside prisons and for military use. ^[20]
• United Kingdom: Illegal to use, but legal to own. Having been proposed by prison inspectors, ^[21] installation and use in prisons has been legal since the end of 2012. ^[22]
• United States: Mobile phone blocking devices are used by federal officials under certain circumstances. For radio communications, it is illegal to operate, manufacture, import, or offer for sale (including advertising) (Communications Act of 1934). ^[23] Blocking radio communications in public can carry fines of up to $112,000 and/or imprisonment of up to one year. ^[24] The Homeland Security Act of 2002 may override the Communications Act of 1934, ^[25] and an exception to this law exists for prisons under the Cellphone Jamming Reform Act of 2023. ^[26]

See also

• IMSI-catcher
• GPS jamming
• Radio jamming
• Microphone blocker

References

1. Grubb, Ben (17 July 2013). "Illegal mobile phone and GPS jammer crackdown by regulator yields results". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 4 December 2017. Retrieved 2 July 2018.
2. "NRadiocommunications (Prohibition of PMTS Jamming Devices) Declaration 2011". legislation.gov.au. 2 March 2011. Archived from the original on 1 March 2017. Retrieved 28 February 2017.
3. Rogerio Waldrigues Galindo. "Bloqueador de celular licitado pela Assembleia é de uso ilegal". Gazeta do Povo. Retrieved 8 March 2015.
4. "Jamming Devices are Prohibited in Canada: That's the Law". Industry Canada, National Capital Region, Office of the Deputy Minister, Spectrum, Information Technologies, and Telecommunications. www.ic.gc.ca. Government of Canada. Archived from the original on 11 February 2018. Retrieved 17 February 2018.
5. "Radiocommunication Act of Canada". laws-lois.justice.gc.ca. Archived from the original on 16 October 2016.
6. "Interpretation of the Directive 1999/5/EC". ec.europa.eu. European Commission, Enterprise and Industry. Retrieved 3 March 2018.
7. "Les brouilleurs : la législation en vigueur" [Jammer legislation in France - ANF R]. www.anfr.fr (in French). Retrieved 8 November 2023.
8. "Advisory on the proper use of wireless jammer and booster/repeater | Department of Telecommunications | Ministry of Communication | Government of India". dot.gov.in. Archived from the original on 2023-12-28. Retrieved 2023-12-28.
9. "Jammer Policy : Others". cabsec.gov.in. Archived from the original on 2023-12-28. Retrieved 2023-12-28.
10. "Articolo 617 bis Codice penale (R.D. 19 ottobre 1930, n. 1398) — Installazione di apparecchiature atte ad intercettare od impedire comunicazioni o conversazioni telegrafiche o telefoniche" [Italian Penal Code, art. 617 bis]. brocardi.it (in Italian). Archived from the original on 28 October 2016. Retrieved 26 November 2016.
11. "Articolo 617 bis Codice penale (R.D. 19 ottobre 1930, n. 1398)" [Italian Penal Code, art. 617]. brocardi.it (in Italian). Archived from the original on 27 November 2016. Retrieved 26 November 2016.
12. Eddie Chua (6 June 2002). "Jeepers Jammers! Illegal to use immobilisers to block handphone calls". Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission . Archived from the original on 13 June 2021. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
13. "Spectrum policy". rsm.govt.nz. Retrieved 8 March 2015.
14. "Mobiles jammed in prisons". One News . 21 August 2007. Archived from the original on 15 May 2009. Retrieved 25 October 2011.
15. "Stuff". www.stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 2025-07-19.
16. "Illegal mobile jammers to be removed". www.pta.gov.pk (Press release). Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 9 August 2015.
17. "Мобилки на тестах заставят замолчать". jammer.su (in Russian). Moscow, RU. Archived from the original on 2 February 2018. Retrieved 23 March 2020.
18. "Spectrum policy". rsm.govt.nz. Archived from the original on 3 August 2014. Retrieved 8 March 2015.
19. "This is who may jam cellular signals in South Africa". mybroadband.co.za. Archived from the original on 15 February 2015. Retrieved 8 March 2015.
20. "Förbud mot störsändare". pts.se. Archived from the original on 14 May 2013. Retrieved 8 March 2015.
21. "Jam mobile phone signals in prisons, says inspector". bbc.co.uk. BBC News. 23 November 2009. Archived from the original on 13 December 2019. Retrieved 8 March 2015.
22. "Prisons (Interference with Wireless Telegraphy) Act 2012". parliament.uk. Archived from the original on 2 July 2018. Retrieved 8 March 2015.
23. Communications Act of 1934 (PDF). fcc.gov (Report). Federal Communications Commission. Archived (PDF) from the original on 14 April 2015. Retrieved 8 March 2015.
24. "Blocking & jamming FAQ" (PDF). Wireless & Cellular Services. Federal Communications Commission. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 November 2016.
25. Reardon, Marguerite (6 December 2006). "Company challenges FCC rules on cell phone-jamming gear". CNET News. CBS Interactive Inc. Archived from the original on 12 March 2018. Retrieved 11 March 2018.
26. "S.1047 - 118th Congress (2023-2024): Cellphone Jamming Reform Act of 2023". congress.gov. 29 March 2023. Retrieved 22 May 2025.