The Ministry of Information and Communications (MIC) has asked mobile-phone users in Ha Noi not to use signal boosters to enhance voice quality and other attachments.

They said this could interfere with mobile signals throughout the city.

The ministry said many portable boosters were used where mobile signals were weak, especially in the Old Quarter where there was a highly concentrated population.

"The use of personal signal boosters are interfering with the overall quality of mobile signals in the city," said Doan Binh, director of the Authority of Radio Frequency Management in region 1 (ARFM) under MIC.

Binh said a mobile operators such as Vinaphone, MobiFone and Viettel had reported their signals were becoming distorted in some areas in Ha Noi.

"The use of mobile signal boosters violates the law on radio frequency. Only authorised operators are allowed to use a radio frequency generator and booster" Binh added.

However, Binh said mobile operators were also to blame for failing to provide quality signals to their subscribers.

Besides asking mobile users to stop using boosters, Binh asked mobile operators to increase the quality of signal quality and coverage, especially in densely populated and outlying areas.

"If mobile users find a weak signal, they should contact their providers and demand they resolve it," he said.

Binh said ARFM region 1 would work with Ha Noi's Department of Information and Communications to check the quality of mobile signals in Ha Noi.

However, a representative from Viettel, said poor signals in some areas were caused by lack of signal towers.

He said the company had unable to build some towers on the top of buildings or houses because of opposition from building owners. They refused to allow Viettel to rent space at the top.

"This is why we cannot not supply good quality signals to all places downtown" he added.

Cellular signal booster or repeaters, are a type of bi-directional amplifier used to boost reception.

The gadgets, which use household electricity are available in some place in Ha Noi for between VND500,000 to VND93 million, depending on capacity and brand.

VNS