Reliance and Airtel flout norms, DoT remains silent: CAG

Reliance Communications Limited (RCL) and Airtel are found to be flouting Department of Telecommunications (DoT) guidelines, yet DoT or TERM failed to take necessary actions against them, says The Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG).

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According to the report tabled in Parliament, Reliance Communications did not demonstrate its lawful interception and monitoring (LIM) capabilities of its network prior to launching mobile GSM services in Delhi NCR in February 2009. This regulation was made mandatory by DoT during May 2008.

In another case, Airtel was found providing leased line to a company Alfa Flight without registration with Telecom Enforcement, Resource and Monitoring (TERM) cell, Delhi.

In both the cases, TERM cell failed terribly in enquiring and taking necessary actions against the companies. TERM Cell Delhi directed RCL to submit the necessary documents after two years (November 2011), however, it did not seek any reason for the violation of the LIM requirement. RCL submitted the certificate in March 2012. According to CAG, violation of LIM requirement can make serious impact on national security.

In response to CAG’s enquiry to TERM regarding the silence against RCL, TERM cell stated that no such no such provision in DoT order issued on February 14 2012 to RCL for demonstration of LIM facilities of GSM network. DoT and RCL remains mute on the allegation.

“The reply of TERM Cell is not acceptable as breach of terms and condition of licence agreement would attract penal action and this was reiterated in the instructions issued in May 2008 and November 2011,” the CAG said.