DoT panel recommends stricter remote access norms

Foreign telecom providers in India may no longer be able to monitor data and voice traffic on networks in India from across the globe if recommendations by a panel of the Department of Telecommunications comes into effect. The panel has recommended tightening of norms for remote access of data, according to a report by The Economic Times. “The panel has said that all players must create an on-line mirror image and audit trail of the remote access information. The panel has also said that telecom service providers must install a local remote access server in India and store all information related to this facility locally,” the report reads. The move, if it comes into effect, will impact foreign carriers in India such as AT&T, BT, France Telecom, Verizon and Cable & Wireless among others. According to the report, the panel added that all remote access requests from foreign locations on Indian network elements should be stored directly at the Indian remote access storage server. "Telecom service provider should ensure the capability to restrict remote access to India network as and when directed by licensor," the panel's recommendation adds. Click here for full story