The Sangrur district police busted an inter-state gang involved in stealing valuable GUC-1 devices from mobile phone towers across seven districts in Punjab, including Sangrur, Barnala, Bathinda, Moga, Mansa, Patiala, and Fatehgarh Sahib. Four members were arrested, identified as Ram Karan Singh and Avtar Singh from Akoi Sahib village near Sangrur, and Prem Singh and Rupinder Singh from Benra village near Dhuri.
The police recovered 31 GUC-1 cards (valued at Rs 2.5 lakh each) and a Swift Dzire car used in the thefts. The gang allegedly committed around 100 thefts, with Prem Singh as the mastermind, selling stolen devices to an individual named Prince.
A case was registered on May 30 under Sections 303(2) and 317(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita at Cheema police station. Further questioning is expected to lead to more recoveries.
Sangrur Police said the GUC-1 device is a component related to telecommunication equipment used in mobile phone towers.
The “GUC-1” device is a specialized module for the operation of cellular base stations, such as a baseband unit, radio unit, or control card. Used in 4G or 5G mobile tower infrastructure, telecommunications equipment manufacturers such as Nokia, Huawei, or Ericsson manufacture the GUC-1.
Likely Function of a GUC-1 Device in Mobile Phone Towers:
● Signal Processing: The GUC-1 could be a baseband processing unit or a control card responsible for processing radio frequency (RF) signals transmitted and received by the tower’s antennas. It would handle tasks like modulation, demodulation, and data encoding/decoding to enable communication between mobile devices and the network.
● Network Connectivity: The device may facilitate the connection between the tower’s antennas and the core network, managing uplink (device-to-tower) and downlink (tower-to-device) data transmission. It could interface with fiber optic cables or microwave links to route data to the mobile network’s data center.
● Traffic Management: Given its high value, the GUC-1 might manage high-capacity data traffic, ensuring efficient handling of multiple simultaneous connections, especially in densely populated areas where towers support numerous users. This aligns with the role of base transceiver station components in managing cell capacity.
● Support for Advanced Technologies: If used in 4G or 5G networks, the GUC-1 could incorporate technologies like MIMO (Multiple Input, Multiple Output) to enhance data throughput and network reliability, critical for modern cellular networks.
Why Are GUC-1 Devices Targeted by Thieves?
● High Value: Each GUC-1 card is valued at Rs 2.5 lakh (approximately $3,000 USD), making it a lucrative target for theft and resale on the black market.
● Critical Role: As essential components for tower operation, these devices are in demand, potentially for use in unauthorized setups or by entities seeking to bypass procurement costs.
● Compact and Portable: Unlike larger tower components like antennas, such cards are likely small, making them easier to steal and transport.
Superintendent of Police (Punjab Bureau of Investigation), Sangrur, Navreet Singh Virk, stated that the Sangrur district police arrested four members of an inter-state gang involved in stealing GUC-1 devices from mobile phone towers across seven districts in Punjab.
The arrested individuals, Ram Karan Singh and Avtar Singh from Akoi Sahib village near Sangrur, and Prem Singh and Rupinder Singh from Benra village near Dhuri, were involved in approximately 100 thefts. The police seized 31 GUC-1 cards, each valued at Rs 2.5 lakh, and a Swift Dzire car used in the crimes.
Virk noted that Prem Singh was the mastermind, selling stolen devices to an individual named Prince, who, along with Lovepreet Singh from Benra, is yet to be arrested. Further questioning of the accused is expected to lead to additional recoveries.