Why mobile phone jammers are prohibited
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Why mobile phone jammers are prohibited
The supply, possession and operation of mobile phone jammers in Australia is prohibited by the ACMA’s Radiocommunications (Prohibition of PMTS Jamming Devices) Declaration 2011, as such devices can cause significant interference to radiocommunications services, including mobile phone networks.
AMTA Policy Manager, Lisa Brown, said that mobile phone jammers are radiocommunications devices that interfere with signals between a mobile phone and the base station or network. Mobile jammers can be used to disable mobile phones and prevent calls from being made and received.
Recent reports in the press have related anecdotes of people using mobile jammers in Australia to prevent others from making mobile phone calls while on buses or in other public spaces.
“While at first glance, it may seem desirable to enforce a no-mobile zone on the train, bus, or in schools, cinemas or restaurants, there are several very good reasons why this is both anti-social and downright dangerous. Mobile jammers are prohibited for very good reasons,” Ms Brown said.
“Let’s take the example of someone using a mobile jammer on a bus. First, they will prevent other passengers from making and receiving calls. While this may make for a quieter ride it will also inconvenience and annoy other people who have paid to enjoy a legitimate mobile phone service.
“A mum running late due to wet weather will now not be able to call the child care centre to let them know she will be late picking up her child. Such a call is really not a big inconvenience to others and helps her manage her life/work balance and also reassure her child. Such connectivity is important and enabled by today’s mobile technology. When a jammer interferes with the mobile service that another person has paid for and expects to receive, it not only costs that person in terms of the dropped call but also causes them stress and inconvenience.
“Other passengers on the bus may not want to make calls but may be trying to send a text message or email or simply browse the internet. A jammer will also interfere with these communications.”
Ms Brown said because it is not technically possible to isolate the effects of the jammer to the bus, residences, schools and hospitals along the bus route as well as other vehicles on the road including ambulances, fire trucks and police cars will also have their communications and calls interfered with and potentially prevented.
“Finally, what if a passenger on the bus has a heart attack? With other passengers unable to call Triple Zero 000 and the driver’s radio not working due to the jammer’s interference, the passenger may die before help can be called,” she said.
“The person using a mobile jammer on the bus is certainly interfering with the legitimate communications of many people and potentially putting lives at risk if they prevent emergency calls from being made.”
Access to Triple Zero 000 is actually the most important reason why jammers should continue to be prohibited in Australia. While it may seem like a good idea to use a jammer in a school, cinema or cafe, we need to stop and consider how that may end up costing lives. If there is an armed intruder in one of our schools, surely we want teachers and students to be able to communicate immediately and effectively. Likewise, if someone collapses in a cafe or there is a fire in a cinema, then people need to be able to phone for help quickly and without any interference.
So, while it may sometimes be annoying to listen to other people’s mobile conversations on the bus or train, a little consideration goes a long way and we should consider safer options such as the “quiet carriages” being trialled by Cityrail in Sydney before resorting to drastic and dangerous measures such as using jammers.
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