The Office of the Telecommunications Authority has raided two illegal external telecom operators in Mong Kok and Kwun Tong, seizing 15 pieces of equipment and terminating 88 telephone lines.

The raids were conducted May 11 and 12.

To tackle illegal external telecom services, OFTA said it will work with fixed telecom operators to conduct call tests to detect telephone lines being used illegally.

In the past year OFTA has conducted 16 operations against such illegal operators and seized 90 pieces of equipment worth $1.5 million and cutting 8,000 phone lines.

OFTA has tightened the administration external telecom service licences and can impose penalties up to $1 million and revoke licensees for illegal activity.