BSNL told to provide ILD call monitoring

The Department of Telecommunications has directed the telephony behemoth Bharat Sanchar Nigam to install lawful interception monitoring equipment for its international long distance operations within 15 days.

In a letter to BSNL chairman and managing director A K Sinha, a copy of which is with Business Standard, DoT has requested his personal attention on the issue.

The letter, dated November 16, also states that the monitoring equipment should be installed "without any further delay and latest within 15 days, so as to avoid an embarrassing situation." The deadline will expire in the first week of December.

In the letter, DoT mentions that it had drawn its attention a number of times (the last being, October 19) to the situation. BSNL, on its part had invited a number of tenders, the first one being, November 2003 and the latest one was in the middle of this year. However, BSNL was yet to finalise any deals, as it was not satisfied with the bids received, sources in the company said.

The DoT's action comes after concerns from a security agency on BSNL's failure in installing lawful interception monitoring equipment even though it is one of the major providers of ILD services in the country.

"The security agency had shot off a letter to the DoT, asking it look into the matter.

The department, in turn, has written to BSNL stating that a delay in provisioning of such equipment is not only against the ILD licence agreement, but may even have a dent on security," a DoT source told Business Standard.

However, the source did not divulge the name of the security agency. LIM equipment helps to legally monitor and electronically intercept data and voice as is defined by various law enforcing bodies in the country.

In India, there are around eight agencies that can pull up a company or an individual, citing threat to national security. The list of agencies includes the Research and Analysis Wing, Central Bureau of Investigation and state Criminal Investigation Department.

Despite repeated attempts, top BSNL officials were not available for comment.

BSNL does not own its own ILD infrastructure but leases bandwidth from carriers like Reliance Infocomm, Videsh Sanchar Nigam and Bharti Tele-Ventures among others.

The company was also planning to lay a submarine cable to Sri Lanka, jointly with Sri Lankan Telecom, from India's Tuticorin coast to Mount Lavinia in the island nation. The companies were also planning to extend the cable to Singapore.