The Hindu Business Line : TRAI orders VSNL to give bandwidth to all ISPs — Objections to 'outside routers' on security ground overruled

THE Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has ordered Videsh Sanchar Nigam Ltd (VSNL) to release international bandwidth to all Internet Services Providers in a non-discriminatory manner. The regulator has asked the Tata-managed company to give international leased line to even those ISPs that have not co-located their routers within VSNL's premises. The company has been given seven days to comply with the order.

VSNL, on its part, has said that if it were to comply with the TRAI order it may be censured by the Department of Telecom if any of the ISPs were to indulge in any activity that would violate the norms laid by the security agencies. VSNL said that one of the reason that ISPs were being asked to co-locate the routers within VSNL's premises was to ensure that proper monitoring mechanism was in place.

"We are subject to the norms of the international long distance licence that required us to ensure compliance of the monitoring requirement of security agencies while giving bandwidth. If the TRAI order is complied, then VSNL must be given assurance that any lapse in security monitoring by the ISPs is not held against us," said a VSNL executive. VSNL has shot off a letter to TRAI on similar lines.

The controversy had risen after several ISPs complained to TRAI that VSNL was insisting on co-locating routers within its premises as a pre-condition for releasing bandwidth. ISPs said that this was against competitive practices.

The VSNL letter said that TRAI itself had earlier agreed to such a system for effective monitoring. "TRAI is insisting upon VSNL to provide bandwidth to all ISPs on non-discriminatory basis which makes us to believe that it is TRAI's wish that VSNL should not insist upon installation of router at VSNL premises. In the absence of router, it is not currently possible for VSNL to meet monitoring requirement and to check the misuse. We should be held harmless against any possible actions by either yourselves or the licensor or any other competent authority. With this assurance in place, VSNL shall have no objection to immediately complying with any instructions from the Authority," the VSNL letter said.

TRAI has, however, said that it was possible to monitor the network without co-locating the router within the same premises. "It is understood that security monitoring can be done through Data Monitoring through the leased line circuits," TRAI said in its order to VSNL.

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TRAI orders VSNL to give bandwidth to all ISPs — Objections to 'outside routers' on security ground overruled

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