Police & NBTC Adjust Signal Towers on Thai–Malaysian Border

Picture courtesy of Khaosod

Cyber police, working with the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC), have launched an operation to dismantle and adjust mobile signal towers along the Thai–Malaysian border to block call centre scam operations. The joint mission, carried out on November 1, 2025, in Padang Besar, Sadao district, Songkhla, aimed to disrupt cross-border telecommunications used by criminal groups to defraud Thai citizens.

The operation was led by Mr Chanavee Charoensiri, Director of the Radio Communications Affairs Division; Mr Suthin Thongmak, NBTC Region 41 Director; Pol. Lt. Gen. Suraphon Prembutr, Commander of the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB); and Pol. Maj. Gen. Sila Kanjanaraks, Commander of CCIB Region 5. Teams from the NBTC Region 4 Office, Cyber Police Region 5, Provincial Police Region 9, Padang Besar Police, and Special Operations Unit Region 9 took part in dismantling or adjusting signal towers suspected of aiding telecom fraud.

The move followed a directive from Pol. Gen. Kittirat Phanphet, National Police Chief, who ordered border inspections to ensure no communications equipment such as sim boxes, devices that route international calls through local networks, was being used to facilitate cross-border scams. The NBTC was instructed to coordinate with operators to reduce transmission power and adjust antenna angles to prevent signal overspill into Malaysia.

Investigations in Songkhla province identified four mobile signal towers near the border. One tower, located on a building at MK Guest House in Padang Besar, had antennas facing Malaysia, with signals extending across the border. NBTC officers ordered the removal of the outward-facing antennas, which was completed immediately. For two other towers with antennas exceeding 10 metres in height and partially oriented toward Malaysia, operators were instructed to reduce antenna height and realign them toward Thailand by November 8, reporting back to the NBTC upon completion.

A fourth tower, also near the border, had already adjusted its cell radius to comply with NBTC regulations. Signal strength tests confirmed the modifications met national standards. Authorities also inspected ten additional sites potentially used for illegal sim box installations and urged local telecom businesses to remain vigilant against fraud-related equipment.

Key Takeaways

• Cyber police and the NBTC dismantled and adjusted border signal towers to block cross-border telecom scams.

• Inspections revealed antennas transmitting signals into Malaysia, prompting orders for realignment and height reduction.

• Officials continue to monitor ten suspected locations and warn businesses to report illegal sim box activity.

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  Adapted  by  Asean  Now from Khaosod 2025-11-02