The simplified equipment security agreement issued by the government will permit operators to begin ordering and installing network equipment that is required to keep pace with the rapid growth of the industry.
However, the industry is concerned with the government pushing the cost of its requirements, security and otherwise onto operators. An example of this is the cost to be borne by operators for implementing location based services (LBS) to meet the government’s security needs, as per the equipment security agreement.
While the industry supports the need for ensuring the security of the country, we do not believe this should be done at the expense of the operators. Discussions with the providers of LBS solutions have also raised concerns regarding the feasibility of meeting the government?s stringent requirements.
Based on the technical standards for accuracy levels, the scale of implementation, the execution of the project and the complexities involved, there is no solution that meets DoT?s mandate. The costs to implement such a system have been estimated at approximately $5 billion.
Further, the industry is concerned about a potential backlash from customers on privacy-related issues. This may arise as a result of the lack of clear policy guidelines on the matter. This is because the new equipment security agreement requires operators to maintain location information accurately up to 50 meters for customers identified by security agencies.
COAI looks forward to working with the government to investigate feasible solutions, adopt realistic time frames for implementation and provide funding for the cost of implementing the solution (hardware and software).
