Indian firms allowed to set up Internet gateways

["Irfan Khan" <KhanIA@super.net.pk>]

Indian firms allowed to set up Internet gateways 

NEW DELHI, July 21: India is allowing private companies to set up 
gateways for providing Internet services, ending the monopoly of a 
state telecommunications firm, reports said on Wednesday. 

The Economic Times, quoting an official of the Department of 
Telecommunications (DoT), said the government had also laid down 
security guidelines for providing international connectivity. 

The daily said government norms allowed for policing by Indian 
intelligence agencies such as the Intelligence Bureau and Research 
and Analysis Wing. 

Private companies using encryption codes for electronic commerce and 
other purposes would have to share the decryption code with the 
telecommunications department. 

Voice communications would not be allowed and only companies which 
have the licence to operate Internet service would be allowed to set 
up the gateways. There will be a cap of 49 per cent on the foreign 
equity in an international gateway project, the DoT official said.-
AFP 


http://www.dawn.com/daily/19990722/top18.htm