DoT moots changes in licence terms for monitoring system

The move would enable Centre and its agencies to monitor telephone calls

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has proposed amendments to the terms for securing a licence to set up a central monitoring system which would enable the Centre and its agencies to monitor telephone calls.

DoT stated the hardware of licensees, as well as the software for monitoring calls would be engineered, provided, installed and maintained by the licensees, at their own cost.

Earlier, the licence terms stated the government agency concerned would bear the cost of the hardware and the leased-line circuits would be located according to their choice, in their premises or in the premises of the licensee.

As part of its plan to set up the central monitoring system, DoT has asked telecom service providers to ensure connectivity from their premises or servers to the nearest interconnected point of Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited premises.