BackIllegal routing of international calls a serious issue: Govt
Telecom minister says some operators route international calls illegally by using data and not voice protocol
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New Delhi: The government on Monday said illegal routing of international calls is a “serious issue" involving security concerns, which has led to an estimated notional loss of over ₹ 4 crore to the exchequer.
Telecom minister Ravi Shankar Prasad told the Lok Sabha that some operators route international calls illegally by violating the stipulated procedure by using data and not voice protocol.
He said since records of such calls are not maintained, the issue also involves “security concerns".
Prasad said in 2011, four cases were unearthed which had led to notional loss of nearly ₹ 2.42 crore.
In 2012, a single case, which led to a loss of ₹ 17.2 lakh, was unearthed.
So far this year, nine cases have been detected and these have led to a loss of ₹ 1.86 crore.
The modus operandi is that the offender sets up an illegal telephone setup using hi-tech equipment and converts incoming international calls as data and then again as local voice calls.
Prasad said Telecom Enforcement Resources and Monitoring Cells constantly monitors, investigates and seeks to control illegal routing of international calls.
The department of telecommunications has issued directions to all telecom service providers for effective monitoring, detection and prevention of such illegal routing.
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