NEW DELHI: In a relief to those living in border areas, the Government on Thursday allowed mobile phone service providers to operate up to 500 metres of the country's international borders. Till now, the service was allowed only up to 10 km.

Technology

``There shall be a `no-service zone' of 500 metres width along the international border, where licensees are not permitted to provide wireless or mobile service. The licensee shall use requisite technology to ensure that the signals become unusable within 500 metres of international boundaries," the Department of Telecommunication said in a letter to all licensees (mobile operators).

The telecom operators will also be required to create a 10-km `buffer zone' along the Line of Control, the Line of Actual Control, Akhnoor and Pathankot areas in Jammu and Kashmir, where cell sites and radio transmitters cannot be deployed.

Stern action

``Periodic surprise checks may be carried out by the DoT or its authorised representatives, including security agencies, to ensure compliance with the conditions. In case any violation in respect of usable mobile signals in the `no-service or buffer zone is detected, stern action will be taken according to the terms and conditions of the licence agreement, including imposition of financial penalty,'' the DoT said. In surprise checks conducted recently, the DoT's Vigilance Department found that most private cellular operators were violating the norm of restricting mobile signals within 10 km of the international border.

But the operators said it was technically not feasible to restrict signals.

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