The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has informed the Prime Minister’s Office that it has taken several measures to address security concerns related to imported telecom gear. These measures include unveiling new norms for purchasing equipment from abroad and mandating that all gear brought into the country be certified and tested at reputed labs.
Prior to this, the Prime Minister?s Office had asked DoT for an update on the steps the latter had taken on this issue.
DoT has also said that the Cabinet Committee on Security had approved the Centre for Communication Security Research and Monitoring (CCSRM) that is being established to help security agencies intercept mobile phone calls, analyse billing records and monitor internet traffic.
Its communication to the Prime Minister?s Office also added that a pilot lab is already operational in the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, to develop the test standards, procedures and test tools required to evaluate all telecom equipment.
It has also said that all imported mobile gear will be tested at Indian labs from 2014. The new security rules unveiled on June 31, 2011, make it mandatory for mobile phone companies to get their networks audited once a year by reputed international agencies for bugs and other security breaches.
