Voip calls to be monitored by Indian Security Agencies

All Indian Voip Providers will soon have to implement monitoring system for calls routed through them called LI. LI is the interception of telecommunications by law enforcement agencies and intelligence services keeping in view the national security.

A technology called Lawful Interception (LI) , which would allow security agencies to keep a tab on the international voice calls made for subversive activities over the Internet. LI is the interception of telecommunications by law enforcement agencies and intelligence services keeping in view the national security. Globally majority of countries have LI requirements and have adopted global LI requirements and standards developed by the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) organization. In the USA, the Communications Assistance governs the requirements for Law Enforcement Act.

The state-owned Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL) is initiating the measure by commissioning the LI system. KS Choudhari, managing director, Aks Optifibre, informed that the trials on the project has been completed. He said that security agencies are verifying and are likely to come up with the results soon. “This is a part of our VoIP contract with MTNL. But it is the first time that interceptors for data packets have been tested in India. In VoIP calls, the voice is transferred from one person to another as data packets, which makes difficult for the agencies to monitor the calls,” Choudhari said.

However, the final call remains with the government to come up with the guidelines for LI system. Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) is also planning to launch VoIP services through its network.

In the expression of interest issued by the operator, it has strictly stated to tie-up with solution providers offering LI technology. Currently there are more gray market operators existing in India compared to licensed ITSPs. Once the LI system comes in place, it would give a serious blow to the illegal ITSPs offering VoIP service.