NEW DELHI: The Intelligence Bureau wants all mobile phone companies to demonstrate that third generation (3G) services can be monitored, intercepted and blocked before they begin offering high-end service on this platform.
Indian mobile phone firms are slated to offer 3G services early next year and the government has committed to handing over the requisite airwaves to winners in the recently concluded auction process by September. The demand by IB is likely to delay the rollout of 3G, which involves services such as video conferencing on mobiles, high speed internet and interactive gaming.
Security agencies including the IB has warned that they currently cannot monitor services such as internet telephony offered by companies such as Skype, chat offered by Google Talk and even video calls, if customers avail these on their mobile handsets after the launch of 3G. Put simply, Indian intelligence agencies do not possess the capabilities to monitor any high-speed internet applications that 3G will offer to mobile customers.
Currently, monitoring mechanisms are in place for similar services if offered using 2G mobile telecom services. All mobile services in the country offered by private operators are done using 2G airwaves.
Just last week, acting on orders from security agencies, the telecoms department had directed state-owned telcos BSNL and MTNL to provide lawful interception mechanisms for all 3G voice and data services on their networks within 15 days.
"Till a solution is arrived in this regard, all telecom service providers may kindly be directed not to provide 3G services, particularly in J&K," adds the home ministry’s latest communication to the telecoms department.