On Monday, the Department of Telecom implemented strict security regulations aimed at ensuring the lawful interception of satellite communication services. The new guidelines prohibit companies from connecting users to any terminal or facility located outside India’s borders and from processing user data overseas.
Under the new security requirements, service providers are also tasked with localizing at least 20 percent of their satellite network’s ground infrastructure within a certain time frame following their entry into the Indian market.
This initiative is particularly important as the government prepares to launch satellite communication services for public use for the first time, necessitating robust measures to prevent potential misuse by criminal elements, including terrorist organizations.
Key players in the satellite communications industry, such as Starlink, backed by Elon Musk, OneWeb, supported by Bharti Group, and Jio Satellite Communications, are vying for a foothold in the Indian market.
According to the new regulations, holders of satcom service licenses must obtain security clearances for specific gateway and hub locations within India, along with meeting requirements for monitoring and interception capabilities.
“Monitoring and lawful interception must comply with licensing conditions at the gateway, point of presence (PoP), network control, and monitoring center, or any equivalent facility. The Lawful Interception System (LIS) or Lawful Interception Management (LIM) system must be integrated with a centralized monitoring system (CMS) or an integrated monitoring system (IMS),” the guidelines specify.
The rules also require satcom providers to showcase their system’s security capabilities, including monitoring compliance, to the Department of Telecom (DoT) or its authorized representatives prior to launching operations in India.
Moreover, service providers are to establish special monitoring zones within 50 kilometers of international borders, as well as along territorial and coastal borders, to facilitate oversight of user activities by law enforcement and security agencies, including the intelligence bureau, armed forces, and police.
Providers must ensure that the location of user terminals, satellite phones, and any other sensitive user information remains inaccessible from abroad.
Similar to traditional telecom operators, satellite communication service firms are required to block access to websites that are already restricted within the country.
The guidelines require that “no user terminal shall be able to access the network from outside the geo-fenced coverage area or through gateways located beyond Indian territory.” Additionally, satcom providers must submit an undertaking confirming that they will not copy or decrypt Indian telecom data outside India.
“The licensee must provide real-time monitoring to ensure that no user traffic originating from or destined for India is routed through any gateway or PoP located outside of Indian territory. Indian user traffic must not be directed through any Gateway or PoP situated abroad or any space system not part of the constellation providing the service,” the rules further state.
Devices registered in India will be prohibited from connecting to any gateways outside the country’s borders.
Licenses have already been granted to Eutelsat OneWeb and Jio Satellite Communications, while Starlink is awaiting final approval.
These service providers will be able to commence operations following the allocation of radio wave frequencies.
The proposed regulations are anticipated to gain government approval based on recommendations from the telecom regulator, TRAI.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
