Bengaluru, Jan 20 (.) Manoj Kottil, Chief Operating Officer at Arya Omnitalk, on Tuesday welcomed the Central Consumer Protection Authority’s (CCPA) action against the sale of tampered and unlawful walkie-talkies, calling it a timely step to safeguard consumers and the nation’s communication networks.
The CCPA has taken suo motu cognisance of largescale illegal listings and sales of walkie-talkies on e-commerce platforms, imposing monetary penalties on major online marketplaces for violations of consumer protection and telecom regulations.
The Authority identified over 16,970 non-compliant walkie-talkie listings across major e-commerce platforms and issued notices to 13 entities, including Amazon, Flipkart, Meesho, JioMart and Meta’s Facebook Marketplace.
Several platforms were found facilitating the sale of unauthorised walkie-talkies without mandatory statutory approvals or adequate disclosures to consumers.
“The use of wireless devices without proper authorization can disrupt crucial communication systems for businesses, emergency services, and essential infrastructure,” Kottil said.
He highlighted that many devices were sold without clear information on operating frequencies, licensing requirements or Equipment Type Approval, a mandatory certification from the Department of Telecommunications through the WPC Wing.
A large number of walkie-talkies were found operating in the regulated Ultra High Frequency band used by police, emergency and disaster response agencies, while several listings falsely claimed the products were “licence-free” or “100 per cent legal”.
Noting that such sales violate telecom, consumer protection and e-commerce laws, the CCPA imposed penalties of Rs 10 lakh each on Meesho, Flipkart, Amazon and Meta Platforms Inc., and Rs 1 lakh each on Chimiya, JioMart, Talk Pro and MaskMan Toys, with proceedings against other entities ongoing.
Rejecting claims of intermediary status, the Authority warned that unauthorised radio devices pose serious risks to public safety and national security, directing platforms to ensure full legal compliance.
Kottil stressed that regulated and licensed communication is critical for industries like logistics, manufacturing, airports, and public safety to ensure secure and reliable operations.
Serving over 70,000 subscribers across 18 Indian cities, Arya Omnitalk is offering a free audit program to help organisations assess their walkie-talkie systems and ensure adherence to regulations, reinforcing the importance of protecting the airwaves, a vital national resource.
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