The government has directed service providers to stop the operations of all 3G mobile services across the country particularly in Jammu and Kashmir till the infrastructure to enable monitoring of lines is put in place.

Minister of State for Communications and Information Technology Sachin Pilot today replied in an affirmative to a question in Rajya Sabha on whether the Home Ministry has asked the Department of Telecom to take steps in this direction.

"It was intimated to BSNL not to launch its 3G services in Jammu and Kashmir service area till BSNL demonstrate its monitoring facility for Lawful Interception Monitoring (LIM) to designated Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs)," he said in a written reply to the Upper House.

"The MTNL was also intimated to demonstrate its LIM system capabilities to LEAs up to their satisfaction. BSNL and MTNL offer 3G services currently. The Licensee(s) can launch 3G services only after demonstration of lawful monitoring and interception facilities to designated LEAs and after prior approval of the licensor," Pilot said.

The DoT has issued instruction to licensees directing that any service shall be launched by them only after prior approval of the Licensor.

"The Licensee shall intimate to the Licensor atleast 35 days in advance before launch of any service alongwith details of adequate facilities for monitoring of the service available with the Licensee. The Licensor shall provide the approval in time bound manner after ensuring that adequate monitoring facilities are in place," the minister said.