Imminent Conversion of EU Directive on Data Retention Into Law Compels Communications Service Providers to Achieve Compliant Solutions

The EU Directive on Data Retention, approved in the spring of 2006, requires communication service providers and network operators to retain traffic and location data for minimum and maximum periods, with the purpose of aiding the investigation, detection and prosecution of serious crimes. EU member states have until September 2007 to convert the EU Directive into national laws.

Service providers and operators will, therefore, be required to update and adapt their traffic data systems in order to comply with the new obligations by the time various national governments implement the European provisions on data retention as law.

"Implementing solutions compliant with the EU Directive on Data Retention will result in an onerous burden on communications service providers and operators," cautions Frost & Sullivan Senior Industry Analyst Fernando Elizalde in a recent study on EU Directive on Data Retention and its Implications to Service Providers. "The provisions of the EU Directive will apply not just to mobile and fixed telephony, but also to Internet telephony, e-mail services and messaging services."

Call detail record (CDR) systems will need to be updated to cope with the increase in communication and traffic data to be stored and managed. Costs will be incurred on assessing current systems, adapting them, and integrating new solutions in order to achieve regulatory compliance. Most importantly, providers previously not obligated to retain data will now be governed by the EU Directive stipulations.

A key component of the EU Directive will require service providers and operators to respond to lawful requests from competent authorities 'without undue delay'. However, existing variations in the exact definition of 'undue delay' will motivate member states to establish clear parameters in this area when bringing into force the provisions of the directive.

"The EU Directive introduces the idea of 'without undue delay' as a criterion to measure service providers' responsiveness to requests from law enforcement agencies," explains Mr. Elizalde. "However, it is not clear how long the delay can be- interpretations of this criterion vary from minutes to a few hours."

As national governments begin work on the transposition of the EU Directive into national laws, service providers and industry organisations will need to work with regulatory agencies and member state governments. In this way they will be able to positively influence issues left open in the European legislation to be defined by the member states.

If you are interested in a virtual brochure, which provides manufacturers, end users, and other industry participants with an overview of the latest analysis of the EU Directive on Data Retention and its Implications to Service Providers, send an e-mail to Srividhya Parthasarathy - Corporate Communications at sparthasarathy@frost.com with your full name, company name, title, telephone number, e-mail address, city, state, and country. We will send you the information through email upon receipt of the above information.

The EU Directive on Data Retention and its Implications to Service Providers is part of the Communications Services Subscription, which also includes research in the following markets: European Ethernet Services Markets, Unified Communications and Triple Play. All research included in subscriptions provide detailed market opportunities and industry trends that have been evaluated following extensive interviews with market participants. Interviews with the press are available.

Frost & Sullivan, a global growth consulting company, has been partnering with clients to support the development of innovative strategies for more than 40 years. The company's industry expertise integrates growth consulting, growth partnership services, and corporate management training to identify and develop opportunities. Frost & Sullivan serves an extensive clientele that includes Global 1000 companies, emerging companies, and the investment community by providing comprehensive industry coverage that reflects a unique global perspective and combines ongoing analysis of markets, technologies, econometrics, and demographics. For more information, visit http://www.frost.com

EU Directive on Data Retention and its Implications to Service Providers

List of key industry participants: EU Directive on Data Retention, communication service providers, EU, Europe, data, location data, EU member states, traffic data systems, data retention, mobile telephony, fixed telephony, Internet telephony, Internet, e-mail services, messaging services, call detail record, CDR systems, traffic data, EU Directive

List of keywords in this press release: Aaqius & Aaqius, GuardSec, Infosys Technologies Limited, Aphyra Technology, Spescom DataVoice, Frost & Sullivan, Nortel, Hotwire, Intellection, HP, Amdocs, Nokia, Armana Security Limited, Marshal, EDS, Cable & Wireless, PC Pro, IT Europa, Utimaco, EMC, sensage, Northrop Grumman, MessageLabs, Hewlett-Packard, Utimaco Safeware AG, Honeywell, Lucent, U.S. Department of Commerce, Torque Management, Verizon Communications, AT&T, ICT Cambridge Ltd, StreamShield, Intec

Media Contacts:

Europe:

Srividhya Parthasarathy

Corporate Communications

P: +91-(044)-42044668

E: sparthasarathy@frost.com

Americas:

Mireya Castilla

Corporate Communications

P: +1-210-247-3830

F: +1-210-348-1003

E: mireya.castilla@frost.com

India:

Nimisha Iyer

Corporate Communications

P: +91-(022)-40013400

E:niyer@frost.com

Asia Pacific

Sarah Lourdes

Corporate Communications

P: 603-6204-5878

E: sarah.lourdes@frost.com

Australia:

Sharmin Jassal

Corporate Communications

P: +61-2-8247-8900

F: +61-2-9252-8066

E: sharmin.jassal@frost.com

Author:  

Email:    

Topic:    

Content: