The government is likely to set up a centralised monitoring centre by May that will enable security agencies like CBI and IB to directly intercept and monitor mobile calls, internet and other communication services across the country without delays.
"For testing and demonstration purpose, at present a pilot CMC has been installed ...Which can cater to the load of 8 regional monitoring centres (RMC). The main CMC is likely to be installed by May 2014," an official source said.
At present, law enforcement agencies like CBI,IB and RAW are required to approach telecom operators for accessing call records and intercepting communication of their targets.
The main CMC will have 21 RMCs under it. There will be specific interception servers at 220 locations provided by telecom operators.
These servers will be connected to legal interception monitoring equipment installed at about 200 locations.
DoT has said that there be multiple layers of checks in case any officer seeks to intercept communication of a target.
This will be done in a manner that target details will not be disclosed to the person managing the centralised monitoring system (CMS).
Details of officers involved in the process will be stored electronically that can be used at the time of auditing CMS.
Under the pilot project, the Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT) has installed ISF servers at 70 locations that are monitoring communications in eight out of 22 telecom circles across country.
Telecom Secretary MF Farooqui has directed C-DOT to give all law enforcement agencies access to the existing CMS by February 28, sources said. It could not be ascertained if C-DOT is ready to handover access of CMS to security agencies as directed by Farooqui.
