
Amazon, Flipkart & Others Delist Walkie-Talkie After Govt’s Advice
In a move to regulate the online sale of radio communication devices, the Indian government has issued guidelines to prevent the unauthorized sale of walkie-talkies, which can potentially interfere with communication systems used by government bodies. As a result, major e-commerce platforms such as Amazon, Flipkart, Meesho, JioMart, and Myntra have removed flagged walkie-talkie listings from their websites.
The guidelines, issued by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), mandate the sale of walkie-talkies operating within permitted frequency bands. The move is aimed at preventing unauthorized sales of radio communication devices that can potentially disrupt the functioning of critical communication systems used by government agencies, emergency services, and other essential services.
The DoT guidelines specify that only walkie-talkies operating within the permitted frequency bands of 446.0-446.2 MHz and 446.1-446.3 MHz can be sold online. The guidelines also require e-commerce platforms to ensure that only authorized dealers and manufacturers sell walkie-talkies on their websites.
Prior to the issuance of these guidelines, walkie-talkies operating on various frequency bands were widely available for sale on online platforms. This had raised concerns about the potential risk of interference with critical communication systems.
The DoT guidelines have been welcomed by the industry, which has been grappling with the issue of unauthorized sale of radio communication devices. “We welcome the guidelines issued by the DoT to regulate the sale of walkie-talkies online. The guidelines will help prevent unauthorized sales of radio communication devices and ensure that only authorized dealers and manufacturers sell these devices,” said a spokesperson for Amazon.
Flipkart, another major e-commerce platform, has also removed flagged walkie-talkie listings from its website. “We take the guidelines issued by the DoT seriously and have removed all flagged walkie-talkie listings from our website. We will ensure that only authorized dealers and manufacturers sell walkie-talkies on our platform,” said a Flipkart spokesperson.
Meesho, a social commerce platform, has also removed walkie-talkie listings from its website. “We are committed to complying with the guidelines issued by the DoT. We have removed all walkie-talkie listings from our website and will ensure that only authorized dealers and manufacturers sell these devices on our platform,” said a Meesho spokesperson.
JioMart, the e-commerce arm of Reliance Jio, has also removed walkie-talkie listings from its website. “We take the guidelines issued by the DoT seriously and have removed all flagged walkie-talkie listings from our website. We will ensure that only authorized dealers and manufacturers sell walkie-talkies on our platform,” said a JioMart spokesperson.
Myntra, a fashion e-commerce platform, has also removed walkie-talkie listings from its website. “We are committed to complying with the guidelines issued by the DoT. We have removed all walkie-talkie listings from our website and will ensure that only authorized dealers and manufacturers sell these devices on our platform,” said a Myntra spokesperson.
The removal of walkie-talkie listings from online platforms is a significant development in the efforts to regulate the sale of radio communication devices in India. The government’s move is aimed at ensuring that only authorized dealers and manufacturers sell walkie-talkies on online platforms, which will help prevent unauthorized sales of these devices.
The guidelines issued by the DoT are expected to have a significant impact on the online sale of walkie-talkies in India. The move is likely to benefit consumers, who will have access to only authorized and genuine walkie-talkies on online platforms. The guidelines will also help prevent the sale of counterfeit walkie-talkies, which are a common problem in the market.
In conclusion, the removal of walkie-talkie listings from online platforms by Amazon, Flipkart, Meesho, JioMart, and Myntra is a significant development in the efforts to regulate the sale of radio communication devices in India. The government’s guidelines are aimed at preventing unauthorized sales of walkie-talkies and ensuring that only authorized dealers and manufacturers sell these devices on online platforms.