DoT looking to intercept encryption services available on smartphones

India and Israel are likely to come closer in the field of telecommunications as Department of Telecommunications (DoT) may rope in a Israeli cyber firm for providing solutions to intercepting encryption services available on smartphones.

According to a report on engagements of Telecom Minister Kapil Sibal's visit to Tel Aviv in the middle of last month, discussions were held with Verint Systems, a firm which provides exclusive solutions for lawful interception in cyber space.

Official sources said the company may also be engaged for ensuring a solution for Location Based Servers (LBS) which gives real-time position of caller.

The Government has already asked all telecom service providers here to ensure LBS and provide access to security agencies, they said.

The firm has expressed willingness to work with Indian security agencies in intercepting encrypted services, official sources quoting the report said, adding more discussions are needed with Verint to explore the possibility of implementing interception solution for encrypted services.

The company said it was willing to provide technical know-how in intercepting encrypted communications, including Gmail, Yahoo mail and BlackBerry, sources said.

The firm is providing interception tools to about 77 countries. It also has set up offices in Gurgaon and Bangalore employing about 100 people, most of them engaged in customising solution for Indian needs.

Verint systems has been asked to contact CERT-In-- India's Computer Emergency Response Team which is tasked with responding to any cyber security related incidents and ensure robust environment for Information Technology enabled services-- said senior DoT officials in this regard.

Sibal, who visited Israel between June 15-19, had invited the "Israeli industry to use India as a spring board for global market as the potential of electronic goods in India is huge".

Senior DoT officials, who were part of delegation led by Sibal, cited huge market, conducive policies, low costs, etc as advantages of manufacturing of electronic goods in India.

The present requirement of USD 90 billion electronic goods would increase to USD 400 billion by 2020.

India and Israel also agreed to work out a mechanism of reducing roaming charges between the two countries and it was suggested that the telecom service providers of the two countries should sit together and hammer a solution in this regard.

Besides, a Joint Working Group can also be established by the two countries for exploring the possibility of cooperation for development of standards, Research and Development and manufacturing of 4G and 5G technologies and equipment, the sources said, citing the outcome of a meeting between Sibal and Gilad Erdan, Israel's Communication and IT minister.