Mobile network disruption around Mangaluru District Prison is set to be reduced through technical changes to the facility’s signal-jamming system, Karnataka Home Minister Priyank Kharge said on September 18, 2026. The adjustments will target antenna design and jammer capacity without weakening the system’s security function, according to the minister.
Residents and other mobile users in areas surrounding the prison had complained about interruptions to network services. The government has acknowledged that jammers installed within the prison compound were affecting mobile connectivity beyond the facility’s premises.
Kharge said the disruption was being addressed through technical measures intended to ensure that the jammers perform their prescribed security role inside the prison while limiting unintended effects on the public outside. The changes are being carried out in coordination with telecom service providers, the report said.
The issue highlights the operational challenge of deploying radio-frequency jamming equipment in dense urban surroundings. A system designed to prevent unauthorised mobile communication inside a secure facility can also affect nearby users when its signal footprint extends beyond the prison boundary. In Mangaluru, the government’s response is focused on adjusting the equipment rather than removing the jammers.
According to the minister, a joint technical survey has already been conducted and necessary adjustments have been made based on its findings. Further coordination with telecom operators is planned to reduce the impact on mobile network services in the surrounding areas.
“Prison security is extremely important, but it is also necessary to ensure that the public and other users living around the prison do not face unnecessary disruption to mobile connectivity,” Kharge said, according to the report. He said technical solutions were being pursued to balance both requirements.
The statement did not provide details on the number of affected users, the specific locations experiencing disruption, the technical specifications of the jammers or a completion deadline for the remaining changes. It also did not identify the telecom operators involved in the coordination process.
For residents, businesses and other users near the prison, the effectiveness of the intervention will depend on whether the equipment can contain the jamming footprint while maintaining coverage inside the facility. The government said efforts to reduce the public inconvenience would continue in consultation with telecom service providers.
The next steps are further technical adjustments based on coordination between the prison authorities and telecom operators. The state government has said the work will proceed while preserving the jammers’ intended security function.
