Tihar Jail Fails to Block 5G: Outdated Signal Jammers Spark Security Crisis

Delhi's Tihar Jail, long regarded as a fortress for high-profile inmates, is now facing a quiet but critical breach—not through its walls, but through the airwaves. Despite the installation of mobile blockers, prisoners are reportedly using 5G internet with ease, thanks to outdated systems that fail to block the newer frequency bands. The prison jamming devices in place were designed for 3G and 4G. In the face of 5G, they're simply obsolete.

5G In, Security Out

Smuggled 5G-enabled smartphones have turned prison cells into command centers. Encrypted calls, anonymous chats, and cloud-based coordination are now possible—right under the nose of the jail administration. According to officials familiar with the situation, multiple inmates are not just browsing; they're organizing.

In some blocks, entire operations are allegedly being run from behind bars—without touching a landline, without raising a voice.

“It's not just a loophole—it's a backdoor,” said one prison officer.
“And everyone inside knows it's open.”

Jammers That Jam Nothing

At present, three jammers are operational inside the prison. None of them are configured to detect or block 5G bands, especially those used by Indian carriers post-2022 spectrum auctions.

The prison management has formally requested an urgent upgrade, but bureaucratic inertia may leave the jail exposed for months.

A Pattern, Not an Exception

Phones have always found their way inside prisons. But with 5G, the stakes are different. Faster uploads mean faster leaks. Lower latency means real-time coordination. From virtual extortion to cryptocurrency laundering, new forms of digital crime are creeping into Indian correctional facilities.

What was once a containment issue has now become a signal war—and the guards are losing.

What Needs to Change ?

• 5G-aware jamming systems with spectrum adaptability
• Real-time signal mapping and triangulation tools inside prison blocks
• A shift from physical inspection to digital counter-surveillance
• And most of all: speed. Technology doesn't wait for tenders to clear

A Final Note: The Illusion of Control

Tihar was built to isolate. But isolation means little when the internet moves faster than the law, and when security infrastructure stands still while networks evolve.

Unless updated signal blockers are deployed immediately, India's largest prison risks becoming a wireless outpost for organized crime.