Mangaluru residents face mobile network disruptions from jammers

Residents near the Mangaluru District Prison are facing severe disruptions to their mobile phone service due to the installation of new jammers. Five new 5G jammers were put in place by the Telecommunication Consultants India Limited (TCIL) on March 23. These jammers were intended to replace older, non-functional devices. Residents have reported a complete drop in mobile network coverage, creating problems for many. Dr. Padmanabha Kamath, a cardiologist, shared an urgent incident involving a heart attack patient who struggled to reach him due to the lack of phone service. The patient eventually arrived at the hospital with assistance from a postgraduate student. Dr. Kamath emphasized that this disruption could have serious consequences, particularly for emergency responders and medical professionals. Malini Krishnamurthy, the Director General of Prisons, noted that similar complaints have emerged from communities near other Central Prisons where jammers were installed. She stated that the issue has been communicated to TCIL and the Telecom Ministry. The authorities are working on recalibrating the jammers to restore some mobile connectivity for nearby residents. Krishnamurthy also mentioned that construction is ongoing for a new high-security prison in Bantwal taluk to replace the current District Prison. The first phase of construction has been completed, and funding for the next phase has been requested from the government.