Telecom Enforcement, Resource and Monitoring (TERM) Cells. 

(Formerly  Known as VTM Cells)

With the increasing number of telecom operators in the country, the Government felt the need for presence of Telegraph Authority in the field at all the Licence Service Areas and Large Telecom Districts of the country, in order to ensure that service providers adhere to the licence conditions and for taking care of telecom network security issues. With the growth of private telecom and internet services, an increase in illegal / clandestine telecom operations was also observed. To address these issues, the Government created initially four Vigilance Telecom Monitoring cells (VTM) in Nov.2004 at Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad and Chennai. Nine more VTM Cells were created during the 2006 for the circles of Punjab, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Kerala, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and UP (E) and fifteen VTM Cells were subsequently added in Jan 2007 for Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, UP (West), Andaman & Nicobar, Assam, Chhattisgarh, Jammu & Kashmir, Jharkhand, Himachal Pradesh, North East-I, North East-II, Orissa and Uttaranchal. Six more VTM Cells were added in March, 2007 for Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Pune, Jaipur and Lucknow, taking the total number of VTM Cells to 34. Since formation of Vigilance & Telecom Monitoring (VTM) Cells in the DOT, the role and functions of VTM Cells have increased manyfold. With a view to reflect the entire gamut of functions assigned to the Cells and to distinguish their role vis-à-vis staff-vigilance activities, the name of VTM Cells has been changed to Telecom Enforcement, Resource and Monitoring (TERM) Cells w.e.f 5^th August 2008. 

 2. Details of Works performed by Telecom      Enforcement, Resource and Monitoring Cells (TERM Cells)

 2.1 Vigilance Functions 

(a)           Inspection of premises of  Telecom and Internet Service Providers

(b)           Curbing illegal activities in telecom services

(c)           Control over clandestine / illegal operation of telecom networks by vested interests having no license

(d)           To file FIR against culprits, pursue the cases, issue notices indicating violation of conditions of various Acts in force from time to time.

(e)           Analysis of call/subscription/traffic data of various licensees.

(f)             Technical arrangement for the lawful interception / monitoring of all communications passing through the licensee's network.

(g)           To ascertain that the licensee is providing the services within permitted area.

(h)           Co-ordination with all service providers

  2.2  Monitoring Functions  

(a)           Coordination with various network operators.

(b)           Monitoring of network parameters.

(c)           Checking of the compliance by the licensee in respect of the license conditions and any directions issued by the licensor in public interest.

(d)           To ensure optimum call completion ratio of inter operator calls.

(e)           Matters related to national security.

(f)             Disaster Management: Taking over of network in the events of natural calamities or the other emergency situations.

(g)           Grievance redresses of subscribers in respect of deficiency by various operators.

(h)           Customer Document Verification with the objective to ascertain whether the mobile service operators are following the DoT guidelines for Customer verification before providing connections

(i)             Perform such other functions as may be entrusted to it from time to time by the DOT in overall interest of the country and consumers 

2.3. Security Functions 

Technical interface between Security Agencies and Telecom Service Providers 

2.4. Service Testing of various Licensed Service Providers in the Licence area and checking roll-out obligation as per license condition. 

2.5. Registration of OSPs and Telemarketers in License Service Areas 

3. Notable Achievements: 

• Mobile subscriber verification audit conducted by TERM Cells (VTMs) in the field has resulted in enhanced compliance to subscriber verification by the Service Providers, from 60% to more than 85%.

• Due to decentralization of Registration for OSP & Telemarketing, and Service testing activities to TERM cells (VTMs), pending cases have been reduced substantially.

• Raids conducted by TERM Cells (VTMs) on illegal set up have plugged losses to the tune of about 300 Crore Rupees for the exchequer.