THE MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI A. RAJA)
(a) to (f) A statement is laid on the Table of the House.
STATEMENT TO BE LAID ON THE TABLE OF THE LOK SABHA IN RESPECT OF PARTS (a) TO (f) OF THE LOK
SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 145 FOR 30TH NOVEMBER, 2009 ON ILLEGAL ROUTING OF INTERNATIONAL
CALLS.
(a)&(b) Sir, BSNL has issued detailed instructions for its various field units to control
illegal routing of international calls through local lines like :
# Periodical monitoring of incoming traffic to BSNL from private operators.
# Prevention of unauthorized diversion in routing of ILD (International Long Distance) calls.
# Prevention of operation of clandestine/illegal telecommunications centers/telephone exchanges.
(c) The details of the notional revenue loss to BSNL due to illegal routing of
international calls through local lines during the last three years and the current year,
year-wise and category-wise are given below:
Year Total notional loss for each category Total (Rs) ILL/ ISP/IPLC/ISDN Broad Band VSAT
2006-07 11,96,20,000 1,05,98,400 NIL 13,02,18,400
2007-08 NIL 6,92,35,000 NIL 6,92,35,000
2008-09 54,81,000 NIL NIL 54,81,000
2009-10 NIL NIL NIL NIL
(d) The details on number of firms/companies/individuals which indulged in the illegal
routing during the last three years and the current year are as follows :
Financial Total Number of Category of Connectivity Used
Year firms/ companies ILL/ ISP/IPLC/ISDN Broad Band VSAT
2006-07 46 42 4 NIL
2007-08 4 NIL 4 NIL
2008-09 1 1 NIL NIL
2009-10 NIL NIL NIL NIL
Details of the companies and individuals are given in the Annexure.
(e) & (f) Action taken by the Government is mentioned below:
# 34 Telecom Enforcement, Resource & Monitoring Cells {formerly Vigilance Telecom Monitoring
(VTM) Cells)} have been created under the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) in various
Licensed Telecom Service Areas and Major Telecom Districts of the country. Term Cells,
with the help of law enforcement agencies, constantly endeavour to check illegal routing of
international calls, with a view to curb illegal telephone exchange set up.
# Equipments used in the illegal set up are seized by law enforcement agencies and cases have
been registered against offenders. Further action is taken by the agencies.
# Toll free public number 1800-110-420 has been opened, so that general public can help the
department, in detection of set ups for illegal routing of international calls through local
lines. Advertisements are given in the media and SMS are sent by mobile phone service
operators to create awareness among public.
# Department of Telecom has issued instructions and guidelines to all licensed service
providers for effective monitoring, detection and prevention of such illegal routing.
# Periodic interactions are made among the senior officers for better awareness regarding
prevention of such illegal set ups.
