BENGALURU: Residents and businesses around Hosa Road and Parappana Agrahara continue to face disruptions to mobile and internet connectivity reportedly linked to signal-jamming equipment installed at Bengaluru’s Parappana Agrahara Central Prison. The issue has persisted for years despite complaints, inspections and official recommendations.

Residents around the prison had reportedly raised concerns about mobile-network disruptions as far back as 2018, with outdated jammers blamed for interference extending beyond the prison premises.

The issue resurfaced in February 2025, when residents reported dropped calls, difficulties receiving OTPs and unreliable Wi-Fi calling. These disruptions reportedly affected online banking and routine communications. Following complaints, authorities inspected the area and directed the recalibration of the prison’s jamming system.

However, concerns about the system have continued.

A high-level committee examining Karnataka’s prisons reported in January 2026 that the jammers at Parappana Agrahara were outdated. The committee recommended upgrading the equipment to technology compatible with 5G networks and deploying low-intensity portable jammers in identified blind spots.

The situation highlights a significant challenge: outdated equipment has reportedly failed to prevent unauthorised mobile-phone use inside the prison while also affecting legitimate users outside it. In August 2026, prison officials reportedly attributed continued mobile connectivity inside the jail to obsolete jammer technology, stating that the existing system was around 15 years old.

The impact on residents extends beyond everyday inconvenience. Bengaluru Rural MP C.N. Manjunath raised the issue with the Union Communications Ministry in August, citing difficulties during medical emergencies, for students attending online classes and for employees working from home. He also highlighted the importance of reliable connectivity given the area’s proximity to Electronics City. Read the report.

The political leadership in Karnataka has also changed since the problem was first reported. D.K. Shivakumar was sworn in as Chief Minister on June 3, 2026, succeeding Siddaramaiah.

Yet the connectivity issue has continued across that transition.

The problem therefore cannot be attributed exclusively to either administration: it predates the current government and has persisted through the change in Chief Ministers. At the same time, inspections, official directions and the high-level committee’s recommendations indicate that the issue has received administrative attention.

What remains unresolved, according to the concerns raised by residents and officials, is the implementation of a technically effective solution.

Prison security and the prevention of unauthorised communication by inmates are legitimate objectives. However, a system designed for that purpose must also address the impact on legitimate telecommunications outside prison premises.

For residents of Hosa Road and Parappana Agrahara, the key question remains: how many more complaints, inspections and recommendations will be required before an effective solution is implemented?