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 5th
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.
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