Will strictly handle the advertising, trading and use of illegal radio equipment.

Comrade Bui Thong Nhut, Deputy Director of Tra Vinh Department of Information and Communications. Photo: BT

Reporter: Recently, has there been any illegal advertising, trading and use of radio equipment in the province, and if so, to what extent, sir?

Comrade Bui Thong Nhut: Thanks to the good implementation of Directive No. 01/CT-UBND, dated March 21, 2023 of the Provincial People's Committee on strengthening the management of radio frequencies and equipment in Tra Vinh province and effectively coordinating the implementation of radio frequency and equipment management according to the annual coordination plan between the Department of Information and Communications and the Regional Radio Frequency Center IV, in the past time, the work of propagating and disseminating regulations on the use of radio frequencies and equipment, and outstanding events related to radio frequency management have been periodically and regularly implemented.

Since then, more than 80 organizations and individuals have been promptly instructed and urged to carry out procedures for granting and renewing licenses for using radio frequencies and equipment; more than 50 organizations and individuals trading and using radio equipment have been periodically and suddenly inspected by the Department of Information and Communications... Thereby, it has contributed to raising awareness of compliance with legal regulations on the use of radio frequencies for organizations and individuals, and state management of the field of radio frequencies has been strengthened.

Up to this point, the Department of Information and Communications has not discovered and has not received any feedback or recommendations from organizations or individuals about the illegal advertising, trading and use of radio equipment, including: mobile signal jammers, GPS, wifi, karaoke; mobile signal boosters... in the province.

Reporter: What harm will illegal trading and use in this field cause?

Comrade Bui Thong Nhut: The use of illegal radio equipment (mobile signal jammers, GPS, wifi, karaoke; mobile signal boosters...) will cause radio information insecurity, interference to radio information networks, radio equipment and radio wave application equipment that are operating legally. In addition, the trading and use of illegal radio equipment will also be subject to administrative sanctions according to the provisions of Decree No. 15/2020/ND-CP, dated February 3, 2020 of the Government stipulating sanctions for administrative violations in the fields of post, telecommunications, radio frequencies, information technology and electronic transactions.

Reporter: Please list some radio equipment and their origins that can interfere with information networks?

Comrade Bui Thong Nhut: Those are radio equipment of unclear origin, without conformity certificates and conformity declarations as prescribed, which are the main causes of interference to radio information networks, radio equipment and radio wave application equipment operating legally in Tra Vinh province.

Specifically: Wireless microphone; DECT standard cordless phone, operating frequency 1920MHz-1930MHz; Baby Monitor, operating frequency 1920MHz-1930MHz; Wireless headset; jamming device (excluding equipment for defense and security purposes).

Civil servants of Tra Vinh Department of Information and Communications learn about radio equipment. Photo: BT

Reporter: So, what issues need to be concerned when individuals and units need to use radio equipment, sir?

Comrade Bui Thong Nhut: Individuals and units when purchasing and using radio equipment need to clearly check the origin, source, whether it has a conformity mark or not, and should buy at reputable stores.

In addition, for some radio equipment, typically: handheld walkie-talkies, high-power walkie-talkies with fixed antennas (used by transport businesses), on-board equipment (such as VHF, HF, AIS, Radar, voyage monitoring equipment, etc.), land-based equipment communicating with ships, Viba, signal transmission equipment with satellites, etc., when individuals and units purchase and use them, they must carry out the registration procedure for a license to use radio frequencies according to regulations. Individuals and units can refer to Circular No. 08/2021/TT-BTTTT, dated October 14, 2021 of the Ministry of Information and Communications stipulating the list of radio equipment exempted from radio frequency licenses, technical conditions and accompanying operations to clearly understand and choose to use radio equipment in accordance with the provisions of law.

People are advised not to arbitrarily buy or use mobile signal boosters, mobile signal jammers, GPS, wifi, karaoke... because this is illegal and will be subject to administrative penalties. If serious consequences occur, they will be subject to criminal prosecution.

Individuals and units should contact the Department of Information and Communications of Tra Vinh province (via phone number 0294.3850852 ) or the Regional Radio Frequency Center IV (via phone number 0292.3883336 ) for instructions on contents related to the use of radio frequencies and equipment.

Reporter: How will the advertising, trading and use of illegal radio equipment be handled?

Comrade Bui Thong Nhut: Illegal advertising, trading and use of radio equipment will be subject to administrative sanctions and confiscation of exhibits according to the provisions of Decree No. 15/2020/ND-CP, dated February 3, 2020 of the Government on administrative sanctions in the fields of post, telecommunications, radio frequencies, information technology and electronic transactions. In cases causing serious consequences, criminal sanctions will be imposed.

To ensure safety and information security for the radio information system and service quality of mobile information networks in the province, people are advised not to advertise, trade and use illegal radio equipment.

In case of detecting signs of violations in advertising, trading and using illegal radio equipment, please immediately report to the Department of Information and Communications of Tra Vinh province (via phone number 0294.3850852 ) or the Radio Frequency Center of Region IV (via phone number 0292.3883336 ) for timely handling.

Reporter: Thank you, Deputy Director!

BA THI (perform)

Source