DoT reassures telcos over data shift to Amazon Web Services
digital intelligence platform (DIP) to the servers of Amazon Web Services (AWS) from those run by state-run Bharat Sanchar Nigam (BSNL) and the Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DoT) triggered a fierce initial reaction from mobile phone companies. They seem to have backed down after the DoT told them that critical subscriber database records (SDRs) of customers won't be stored on AWS.
The DIP is used to help fight cyber crimes and fraud.
The Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) had called the move «abrupt and unilateral» in a May 11 letter to DoT secretary Neeraj Mittal and telecom minister Ashwini Vaishnaw. COAI represents India's top telcos Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea. The carriers had added that the shift would compromise the privacy of consumers' personal data due to the inherent nature and architecture of such cloud-based solutions.
The DoT reassured them in a May 13 letter that subscriber database records (SDRs) of customers provided by the telcos are not being kept on the AWS cloud. ET has seen copies of the letters. The phone companies seem to have backed down since.
«Considering the assurance provided in the letter from AI & DIU wing of DoT dated May 13, 2024, that no subscriber database records (SDRs) of the customers provided by the TSPs will be kept on AWS NW/cloud directly or indirectly, in our opinion, the said issue is resolved,» COAI said in a May 14 letter.
DoT officials told ET that the move stemmed from the current infrastructure being incapable of handling
