CorporateHome Ministry takes up security issues with DoT
The Home Ministry is learnt to have raised a host of security-related issues with the Telecom Department amidst security agencies raising concerns over Chinese vendors supplying equipment to Indian vendors.
- Centre"s plan to secure telecom network suffers setback - Home Min inaugurates Education Loan Campaign - US invites Chidambaram for in-depth talks to combat terrorism - Goa port expresses security concerns, fears loss of revenue - Pak should not ask any more questions on evidence: Chidambaram - Security to top leaders tears Parliament apart
The Home Ministry has told the Department of Telecom (DoT) that many foreign calls originating abroad do not have the CLI (Caller Line Identification)parameters hampering intelligence analysis and investigations into anti-national activities being undertaken abroad, according to an internal note of DoT.
The issue of CLI came to the fore way back in 2004 when Reliance Communications allegedly violated the identification norms for diverting international traffic as local to save on access deficit charge, a fee levied by the government to compensate BSNL"s rural operations. ADC was later withdrawn.
Reliance Communications was penalised Rs 150 crore alleged violation of CLI norms.
MHA also has taken up with DoT the Call Data Record issue saying BSNL had refused to provide the call data record.
"BSNL"s refusal and DoT"s position in this regard will hamper operational activities undertaken by the security agencies, including IB, towards ensuring national security."
MHA further said a number of value-added services by telecos use personal information of subscribers, including SIM number, name, location, for commercial purposes by different enterprises like real estate, banks and other businesses.
"This indicates telecom companies are using CDR data for commercial purpose", said the note. DoT is preparing its response to the MHA issues, said an official.