If you've been waiting for 3G mobile services to rollout across the country, don't hold your breath.

Months after selling-off 3G airwaves to companies in a record auction, the government now realizes it doesn't have adequate infrastructure to tap into 3G networks for security operations. 

It isn't clear, however, how to deal with the 19 lakh customers who already subscribe to public service providers like BSNL or MTNL. Private players were expected to enter the market by the end of the year. That deadline is now under question.

3G services promise everything from video-phone calls to faster internet on your mobiles.  

Why the govt wants to wait

Users of third generation (3G) mobile services face the prospect of being disconnected with the home ministry asking the department of telecommunication (DoT) to direct service providers to put all 3G services on hold till an effective system of tapping infrastructure was put in place.

Currently though only public sector telecom companies - BSNL and MTNL - provide 3G services to nearly 19 lakh customers across the country. The move may affect the year-end schedule for the launch of third generation mobile services by private players if they fail to put in place the required infrastructure to intercept all services including video calls.

The freeze order is aimed particularly at J&K where secessionists have used modern telephony to circulate streaming videos and clips to inflame opinion on the streets.

The order also marks a toughening of the government stance towards service providers who have not heeded its security concerns. The home ministry is upset with the continued failure of service providers to verify users of SIM cards. The home ministry and intelligence agencies are also annoyed because telephone companies have defied the directive not to provide services on handsets which don't have the International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) number. This despite the finding of security agencies that terror gangs were using unverified SIM cards as well as handsets without IMEIs - all Chinese - to plot violence.

The exasperation found expression in the tough stand against Research in Motion, makers of BlackBerry, after they pleaded their inability to provide access to encrypted messages being sent and received by users of the smart phones.

Pending talks

All these issues are likely to figure in a meeting of service providers called by the home ministry on Thursday.

Sources said the ministry was all set to read the riot act to telephone companies, even telling them to discontinue encrypted services on BlackBerry if the Canada-based RIM refused to play ball.

"The issue along with other matters including that of interception of the BlackBerry messenger service will be discussed in a meeting of service providers and DoT officials on Thursday," said an official.

It was recently found that there were nearly 30 lakh unverified SIM cards in Jammu and Kashmir alone. A sample study in the border state revealed the use of unverified SIMs to an extent of 50% of total active connections.

Similarly, in case of IMEI number, it was found that compliance rate from service providers over shutting down services to handsets without a genuine IMEI number had been extremely poor. As a result, law enforcement agencies are finding it very difficult to intercept targets that do not have a legitimate IMEI number.