Many illegal radio transmitters in Shanghai will soon be forced off the air because regulators are tightening governance over wireless communication.

The Shanghai Radio Administration Bureau (SRAB) will inspect the city's 2,500 property companies, many of which are suspected to have illegal radio transmitters.

It's quite common for property companies to use wireless communication tools, such as walkie-talkies, within their residential areas, office buildings, supermarkets, shopping malls and construction sites without having a license, the bureau said recently.

According to national radio administration regulations, all radio broadcasters should firstly apply for a license for their wireless transmitters before operating them.

"But so much radio communication equipment is now available in stores. People can get a radio frequency from the seller so they have no problem using such devices even if they don't have a broadcasting license," an SRAB official surnamed Jiang said.

A recent Shanghai Morning Post report said about 70 property management staff were using unlicensed walkie-talkies in an office building in Xujiahui. The property manager said that he didn't know about a license being mandatory.

"Unauthorized transmissions interrupt or hamper broadcasts from the (city's 70,000) legal radio transmitters," Jiang said.

Some high-powered illegal radio transmitters have seriously disrupted airport communication. East China Air Traffic Management Bureau official Jiang Yao said the communication between pilots and the command center was interrupted by strong radio waves several times in 2006.

"Such signals usually come from illegal radio transmitters in neighbouring Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces. The illegal operators, especially the high-powered ones, could cause a serious accident," she said.

Though the SRAB could not estimate how many illegal broadcasters were operating in the city, experts their number was huge.

Wireless communication expert in Shanghai Jiaotong University Yu Hui said the radio administration should crack down on people selling radio equipment.

"It's time the government cleared the sales channel of radio equipment and helped build up a more standard market environment," Yu said.

source: China Daily