The Hindu Business Line : Cellular operators need advance clearance for value-added services

THE Department of Telecom (DoT) has made it mandatory for all cellular operators to submit details of all the value-added services and take clearance of the security monitoring facility installed for these services 15 days ahead of the launch.

It has also asked the operators to submit a report on the security monitoring equipment installed for value-added services that have already been launched.

The compliance report has to be submitted within the next 10 days.

DoT has warned of action against cellular operators that do not implement the orders, as it amounted to violation of licence conditions.

Value-added services account for nearly 30 per cent of the operators' revenues.

This includes short messaging services, data services such as mobile Internet and ringtone downloads.

The DoT move comes after the Home Ministry pulled up the Department for having a "weak licensing regime."

In a note prepared by the Intelligence Bureau, the Ministry said it seemed that the operators were not seeking clearance of the monitoring facility prior to launching services.

"Notwithstanding that the issue was raised over eight months ago, no action has been taken by the service providers to provide monitoring, which has serious implications on national security," said a senior Government official.

Following the IB report, DoT, in a note to all the cellular operators, said though the licence conditions make it mandatory for them to install monitoring facility on their network, there have been instances where operators have been found not implementing the condition.

"Cellular Mobile Service Providers are directed to intimate the details of various value-added services and additional facilities available in their network, along with the details of the provisions made for lawful interception and monitoring of these services within 10 days. In future, the operators should intimate the licensor about any new service, along with the details of the provisions made for lawful monitoring of these facilities within 15 days in advance before the introduction of these services," said DoT in a letter to the operators.

Mr T.V. Ramachandran, Director-General, Cellular Operators Association of India, said the note was routine and that the operators were complying with all security requirements.

More Stories on : Regulatory Bodies & Rulings | Telecommunications

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication :: Printer Friendly Page

Stories in this Section
VSNL to buy Tyco Global for $130 m

SCI board okays investment in Sethusamudram project

Buying in heavyweights props up indices

SEBI prescribes norms to list debt securities

Cellular operators need advance clearance for value-added services