Illegal VoIP faces a block

Four mobile operators have signed up for a system that can automatically detect illegal international call termination powered by voice over internet protocol (VoIP).
The system, already set up on the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) premises, will help both the telecoms regulator and the operators to detect the mobile numbers that will be used for illegal call termination.
Four operators — Grameenphone, Banglalink, Warid Telecom and Citycell — yesterday connected themselves to SIM Box Detection system that is based on a call method and uses many different routes to provide results with accuracy.
A box contains 10-30 SIMs (subscriber identity modules) that operators can use for illegal call termination and the system will detect any such routing.
The operators have taken the move at a time when the Bangladesh Telecommunications Act 2010 (Amended), now under review, has kept a provision of imposing Tk 300 crore fine, if any operator’s involvement is found in such illegal call termination.
Around 60 million minutes of international calls are made to and from Bangladesh a day. Of those, more than 30 percent calls are terminated through illegal VoIP operators.
In Bangladesh, call termination through VoIP has become a lucrative business as the technology offers international calls at charges much lower than those of the legal calls.
Meucci Solutions, a Belgian company that has developed the system, will monitor the call status and provide reports to the BTRC and operators on a daily basis.
Based on the reports, the operators will block the SIMs used for illegal call termination and the BTRC will take action.
However the system can only detect the illegal calls that are generated through SIM box. Illegal VoIP operators can also handle international calls through E1 devices.
E1 is an all-digital communications line that allows transmission of voice, data, video, and graphics at high speed compared to standard communication lines.
BTRC Chairman Zia Ahmed said: “The new system will help reduce illegal VoIP calls. But this is not enough to totally stop illegal call termination.”
The system will automatically detect the fraud calls and inform both the operators and regulator, said Zakiul Islam, president of Association of Mobile Telecom Operators of Bangladesh.
“It will make the industry more compliant.”
Mobile and landline operators disconnected more than 4.5 lakh connections in the last one year, as those were found being used for illegal call termination.
Earlier, the BTRC had directed the operators to set up the system.
Meucci Solutions now serves more than 100 telecom operators across the world.

Courtesy of The Daily Star