Focusing on the requirement of the Ministry/Department/State Government, in consultation with Ministry of Home affairs, the India Government is implementing a secure phone and communications system.
Due to the classified nature of intra-governmental communications, the government developed a system that uses end-to-end encryption for security – a move that is considered a “setback” for telecom operators and equipment vendors. The push for a secure system means the government feels that current equipment suppliers and operators are none too trustworthy, Telecom Lead reports.
"To develop and deploy a pan-India secure network and network-based services such as e-mail, voice-over-Internet protocol (VoIP) and mobile communication through survivable and available network architecture for secured communication for government use with a government funding of Rs 450 crore," PTI reported quoting the DoT statement in January.
For high security of classified government communication, secured communication network is proposed to be established for fixed and wireless communication.
"For the security of communication flowing within the country, it is desired that traffic should not flow outside the country and should be routed through National Internet Exchange of India (NIXI), a government-supported not-for- profit organisation that facilitates exchange of domestic internet traffic," the working group added.
The Minister of State of Communications and Information Technology Shri Milind Deora said the phones will be implemented in June of 2012.
In the U.S., National Defense Magazine reports airplane maker Boeing looks to build its own Android smartphone. The phone will be secured for government and military use, likely named “The Boeing Phone (News - Alert)."
Current devices with similar military-grade encryption can cost over $10,000 per unit, and Boeing's new mobile phone will probably cost much less. Reports suggest it will run on Android (News - Alert) 2.3 Gingerbread, as "the project is already near the end of its development cycle."