Survey to be conducted on mobile signal issue at Parappana Agrahara

TCIL to conduct survey on network disruptions caused by T-HCBS at Bengaluru Central Prison, impacting residents and students.

The Telecommunication Consultants India Limited (TCIL), a public sector undertaking operating under the Department of Telecommunication (DoT), will conduct a survey of the Bengaluru Central Prison area at Parappana Agrahara to gather information about severe network disruptions affecting the residents living in the area. The disruptions are caused by the Tower-Harmonics Call Blocking System (T-HCBS) installed inside the prison.

The development comes after the State Prison and Correctional Services Department held a meeting with the DoT, Telecommunication Regulatory Authority of India and telecom service providers on Monday. In 2024, a similar meeting was held. Later, Airtel installed a mini tower at 6th cross of Venkatadri Layout in Parappana Agrahara to boost network.

A resident living near the central jail talking to The Hindu said that after establishing a mini tower, the network problem was eased for a brief period. However, the issue resurfaced again. Earlier, a small area near the jail was affected, but now the impact radius has increased up to 1 km. The residents have been meeting the officials regularly, requesting them to resolve the problem.

The resident further said that with SSLC and PUC exams scheduled in March, the students are facing hardship in accessing study material online. The schools and colleges are sending study material on WhatsApp groups, but without a mobile network, the teens are struggling.

A source in the DoT said that on the insistence of the Chief Minister’s Office, the TCIL has been directed to carry out a survey to find out jammer frequency and why the impact radius was increased to 1 km. The source said this is a problem created by the prison department and is not just limited to Bengaluru. After the installation of T-HCBS at Mangaluru prison, the citizens using the nearby bus stand in the city are also facing similar issues.

A senior prison official said the department has installed T-HCBS and set the jammer frequency based on the rules. “We are also working with the residents and other stakeholders to find a solution for the persisting problem.” Another source in the department said some inmates are still managing to place calls from inside the prison. A few are wondering as to how this system is jamming the signal outside the prison but allowing it to make calls from inside.”