Trade Shows

September 26, 2002 New Delhi
Addressing complications thrown up by VoIP networks

International conference on telecom security focuses on solving the complex problems of legal interception in long-distance IP networks.

Telecom Regulatory Authority of India member R.R.N.Prasad today suggested that the issues of security in telecom networks should get priority over quality of service (QoS) as there were growing concerns over privacy all over the world. "Internet commerce is possible only if it is a secure one," Prasad pointed out.

The TRAI member who was addressing the Telecom Security conference organized by the journal Convergence Plus, said that security issues threw up several problems at policy, technology and political level. Privacy had become very important, especially in voice communications, for users. Further complications have been thrown up by the nature of the VoIP networks where the signals could not be differentiated by their origin, that is, voice, data or video. This made legal interception procedures more difficult to define. TRAI was in the process of setting forth the various technical issues involved in legal interception like the interfaces to be used.

Referring to the need for surveillance over IP networks Prasad touched on the current security environment. "The topic is of very great relevance," he said. Two experts from the telecom industry, who spoke at the seminar, explained how legal access to tap the IP networks could be implemented keeping due regard to issues of security and privacy.

Dr. Chris Blair, chief technology officer, Eyretel Plc of the UK, pointed out that criminals communicating intelligently over intelligent networks were a major threat to security. "This challenge is very real," he warned. The threat was growing in complexity as voice and data streams merged in IP networks. At the same time, no standardization in coding and analysis of the system existed. The only possibility of keeping up surveillance was to use the right technology. Dr. Blair explained the salient points of the technology that his company had perfected in providing legal surveillance.

"Security challenges are changing and merging," said Nimrod Borovsky, director, product marketing, VocalTec Communications. VocalTec's technology was specifically seeking to solve the complex problems of legal interception in long-distance IP networks. The technology also dealt with the problems of two peering networks where authentication should not be automatic, but the interception also did not interfere with quiet access for the user.

Telecom Security India 2002 International Conference, organized by Convergence Plus, is a two-day event highlighting the need to secure business information networks in the light of increasing competition in the telecom sector.