The use of a device to jam cellular phone signals, privately or publicly, is illegal in South Africa, the Independent Communications Authority of SA (Icasa) said on Wednesday (31 October 2012).<\/p>\n
“No organisation is allowed to jam cellular signal, and any device which is used to jam signal is illegal,” Icasa spokesman Paseka Maleka told Sapa.<\/p>\n
Maleka referred to Government Gazette 24123, from November 2002, which contains Icasa’s findings on “mobile telephone blocking devices”.<\/p>\n
“There appears to be no legitimate radio communications use for cellular jamming devices. Icasa has therefore decided that use of jamming devices will not be authorised,” the gazette reads.<\/p>\n
“Icasa notes the concern around the use of cellphones in public places and encourages the mobile cellular industry to embark on programmes to promote responsible mobile phone use by consumers.”<\/p>\n
Icasa had accepted submissions on jamming before it finalised the report.<\/p>\n
Security companies and asset trackers argued against jamming, saying they could not protect their clients’ assets without using cellular phones.<\/p>\n
Others argued it could promote criminal activity, where robbers might take advantage of a blocked signal in a bank to ensure no one called the police.<\/p>\n
Emergency services would also be unavailable should the need arise.<\/p>\n
It was argued that people who were using their cellular phones “responsibly” would be unfairly disadvantaged by a blocked signal.<\/p>\n
Icasa found that security cluster departments, such as defence, the Hawks or correctional services, could not use jammers as they had “alternative legislation” to support other means of security.<\/p>\n
Jamming devices emit radio waves with the same frequencies as cellular phones. This causes enough interference and renders the phones unusable.<\/p>\n
These devices were found primarily in places where a phone call would be particularly disruptive, or could be used to prevent sensitive information from being leaked during meetings.<\/p>\n
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