Entrepreneur Fined Rm80 000 For Using Illegal Communication Gadgets

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The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission carried out investigations after complaints from phone users about interference and dropped calls. (MCMC pic)PETALING JAYA: An entrepreneur who used unauthorised communications equipment that disrupted network and cellular services was fined RM80,000 by the Kuala Lumpur sessions court yesterday.
The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) said the 36-year-old man pleaded guilty to four charges brought against him, Bernama reported.
MCMC said the man could have been fined up to RM300,000 or jailed for three years, or both, for the offence.
The entrepreneur installed an SMS Blaster device with an antenna at condominium units adjacent to highways.
The SMS Blaster was modified to become a fake base transceiver station (BTS). When mobile phones connected to the SMS Blaster, the 4G network service dropped to a 2G connection.
This allowed people to receive advertisements for money lending services and gambling activities through the short message service (SMS).
The illegal activity also caused dropped calls and unsatisfactory internet service quality.
According to MCMC, the entrepreneur faced two charges under Regulation 16(1)(b) of the Communications and Multimedia (Technical Standards) Regulations 2000 for using the SMS Blaster at the Memoire Suites Condominium, Dua Central and EkoCheras, Kuala Lumpur.
“For the other two counts, he was charged under Regulation 34(5)(c) of the Communications and Multimedia (Spectrum) Regulations 2000 for using the SMS Blaster and causing interference with the network and cellular services of a licensed telecommunications company.”
Following complaints from phone users, the MCMC enforcement division carried out investigations and discovered the use of the SMS Blaster at the condominium units. - FMT

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