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Illegal equipment

Mobile phone jammers, GPS jammers, wi-fi or drone jammers and mobile phone boosters are illegal in Australia.

There are penalties if you break the rules.

Illegal equipment

The following equipment is illegal:

  • mobile phone jammers
  • GPS jammers
  • wi-fi jammers
  • drone jammers
  • mobile phone boosters.

Mobile phone jammers

You are not allowed to operate, supply, offer to supply, or have a mobile phone jammer. 

Under the rules, mobile phone jammers are called PMTS jamming equipment

This equipment causes interference to mobile phone signals. It can:

  • block access for people calling emergency services
  • interfere with other radio services
  • aid criminal and terrorist activities.

View the rules for mobile phone jammers in the Jamming Equipment Permanent Ban.

GPS jammers

You are not allowed to operate, supply, offer to supply, or have a GPS jammer.

Under the rules, GPS jammers are called RNSS jamming equipment.

This equipment causes interference to satellite navigation systems such as GPS signals. It can:

  • disrupt navigation systems that the police, ambulance and fire services use
  • pose a risk to other radio communication services.

View the rules for GPS jammers in the Jamming Equipment Permanent Ban.

Mobile phone boosters

You are not allowed to operate, supply or have a mobile phone booster.

A mobile phone booster boosts the signal of a phone. A mobile phone booster can: 

  • interfere with mobile networks signals
  • weaken network performance for other users.

View the rules for prohibiting mobile phone boosters in the Prohibition of Mobile Phone Boosters Declaration.

On 13 March 2025, we made the Communications (Interpretation) (Consequential Amendments) Instrument 2025. This made changes to the declaration. 

It replaced the reference to the Radiocommunications (Interpretation) Determination 2015 with a reference to the Radiocommunications (Interpretation) Determination 2025 in 2 definitions in the declaration. 

The 2025 determination repealed and replaced the 2015 determination. 

The changes we made to the declaration do not affect its operation. 

Wi-fi and drone jammers

You are not allowed to operate, supply, offer to supply, or have a wi-fi or drone jammer.

Under the rules, wi-fi and drone jammers are called RLAN and RPAS jamming equipment.

This equipment causes interference to wi-fi networks and drone communications systems. It can:

  • disrupt services relied upon by businesses and consumers
  • cause a drone to behave unpredictably, and potentially endanger property and peoples’ safety.

View the rules for wi-fi and drone jammers Jamming Equipment Permanent Ban.

Penalties

Penalties for breaching the rules are serious.  The maximum penalty for each offence is a fine of up to $330,000 and/or 2 years prison. 

Notice pursuant to subsection 172(3) of the Radiocommunications Act 1992

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Notice prepared pursuant to subsection 172(3) of the Radiocommunications Act 1992
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