1.2. Network security

Technical regulation also involves the subject of network security. Here, too, the development of competition and changes in the status of the public telecommunications operator point to the need to set a certain number of common rules in order to maintain the traditional role of the networks in the interests of public safety.

Steps have been taken in the areas of intercepting calls, setting priorities for restoring certain lines, and routing security calls; this progress resulted from coordination with other French and European authorities concerned by these same problems.

In a related area, the regulation of cryptography, the DGPT is following efforts on the protection of data, and the certification of data processing systems. For example, the DGPT is represented at the SOG-IS, the European Commission advisory group for the security problems of IT systems.

Finally, technical progress with networks raises new prospects (for example, universal personal communications, the advent of global satellite systems), which make it essential to develop appropriate regulations. This is why the DGPT is playing an active role in the international work on intelligent networks and is following the European research programmes on ACTS (Advanced Communications Technologies and Services), which are harbingers of the systems of the future.

2. Interfaces between networks and terminals: approval procedures

3. Good use of the radio spectrum

4. Changes in technical standards

Chapter X