Gemalto says NSA/GCHQ hack "probably happened"

Last week, we reported that personnel from the US and UK's top spy agencies hacked into large SIM card manufacturer, Gemalto, in an attempt to gain encryption keys for accessing mobile devices around the globe. The firm has been investigating these claims, and can now confirm the attack "probably happened."

Gemalto believe the intrusions affected just their office networks, and no encryption keys will have been taken if this is the case. The company was in-fact aware of a sophisticated attack during the period that the attack was said to have occurred.

Another SIM card manufacturer has been breached which could have been with more success

Had the encryption keys been leaked, the spy agencies would be able to listen in on 2G-based phone conversations and/or install malware on devices using SIM cards issued by Gemalto. Considering the company produces two billion SIM cards each year around the world, it would make for quite an asset for the two surveillance agencies.

"We are conscious that the most eminent state agencies, especially when they work together, have resources and legal support that go far beyond that of typical hackers and criminal organizations," Gemalto says.

3G/4G communications would be impervious to these attacks, which reduces its effectiveness and could be the reason why the NSA and GCHQ seemed to give-up on their pursuit. The intended targets, however, were countries where 2G is still most-used such as Afghanistan, Iceland, India, Iran, Pakistan, Serbia, Somalia, Serbia, Tajikistan and Yemen.

Gemalto believes that mobile operators are best employing added preventative measure to protect their customers: "Security is even higher for mobile operators who work with Gemalto to embed custom algorithms in their SIM cards. The variety and fragmentation of algorithmic technologies used by our customers increases the complexity and cost to deploy massive global surveillance systems."

The attack seems to have focused on Gemalto - which is not a surprise - but the company points out that some details in the document are not applicable to their services such as SIM card personalisation centres in Japan, Colombia, and Italy, which they did not have at the time of the attack. Another discrepancy is that Gemalto has not provided SIM cards to four of the twelve operators listed in the documents.

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EE's traffic grows sixfold as MNO hits 7.7 million 4G subscribers

In the last two months alone, EE has added 1.7 million customers to reach 7.7 million 4G subscribers. This is not only more than any other operator across Europe, but also beat the company's own internal year-end target of 6 million by some distance as a result of the UK MNO's rapid-expansion.

EE's network has provided access to superfast broadband for the first time in many areas.

Throughout 2014, EE expanded its network to cover 350 more cities and towns. This has allowed their total 4G coverage to reach 510 areas in the UK, each with populations of 10,000 and above. Overall, EE's 4G network is now accessible to 80% of the population and is on-target to reach 98% by the end of 2015.

This growth has meant traffic has spiked 600% and yet EE's network is still often-hailed as the most reliable 4G network in the UK by the likes of RootMetrics. EE notes this upload and download traffic is "driven by customers sharing selfies and videos on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, and streaming video from the likes of BBC iPlayer, YouTube and Sky Go." 

With the roll-out making its way to 1,000 villages and small towns in rural areas of the UK in the last few months of 2014, EE's network has provided access to superfast broadband for the first time in many areas. It is this rural speed and access which BT could find alluring as it nears a possible £12.5 million merger with the UK's biggest mobile network.

EE's 4G network is now accessible to 80% of the population and is on-target to reach 98% by the end of 2015.

High-speed internet access in large cities will be largely provided by BT's fiber-based infrastructure, including fixed line and Wi-Fi hotspots. Customers will be able to fall-back on EE's 4G network in rural areas, which is where the network says it is increasing its focus on. This could fuel speculation that such a deal with BT is nearing a close.

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Freeview gets shafted in 4G expansion

Ofcom has announced plans to allocate spectrum in the 700MHz frequency band in-use by Freeview television services for the ongoing expansion of 4G. Couch potatoes shouldn’t be affected too much, as most viewers will just have to re-tune their equipment to pick-up broadcasts in the adjacent 600MHz band.

“Enabling the 700MHz band to be used for mobile data will allow mobile networks to provide better performance at a lower cost, which will bring considerable benefits to citizens and consumers,” Ofcom said in a statement.

Most viewers will just have to re-tune their equipment to pick-up broadcasts.

The 700MHz band is being targeted by the regulator due to its low frequency which, in theory, should allow the signal to travel further. In 2012’s 4G spectrum auction, Ofcom sold higher frequencies in the 800MHz and 2.6GHz bands.

Two weeks ago, Ofcom announced further plans to auction off the 2.3GHz and 3.4GHz bands to meet capacity demands and increase speeds (which have halved over the course of a year, according toOpenSignal.)

Ofcom’s Chief Executive, Ed Richards, said after the 2012 auction: "4G coverage will extend far beyond that of existing 3G services, covering 98% of the UK population indoors - and even more when outdoors - which is good news for parts of the country currently underserved by mobile broadband.”

The moves announced today will help operators achieve this goal by combining further reach to rural areas, along with the capacity required for built-up areas. Freeview spectrum won’t be allocated until at least 2020 which provides for plenty of time to inform consumers and allow those who broadcast in the 700MHz frequency to shift elsewhere.

"Our analysis suggests that, through more efficient frequency planning, it would be possible to reconfigure the DTT network in the spectrum between 470MHz-694MHz without materially affecting the coverage or channel mix that viewers currently enjoy," Ofcom said.

It seems a radical move from Ofcom, but the announcement comes after a report (PDF) from Analysys Mason claiming that demand for mobile data will be 45x higher than it is today by 2030. If a regulator isn’t working to ensure this demand is handled, their use must be questioned.

UK political party, The Conservatives, have promised to “cut quangos” which is widely-believed to include Ofcom. The regulator will be doing all they can to prove their vital position and ensure the Treasury has a steady flow of income from spectrum auctions to help keep the government sweet.

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Google wants 2015 to be the year of surveillance reform

Surveillance needs a reform, few will argue against that. Even companies which make their bucks from watching users such as Facebook are calling for new measures to protect citizens from mass surveillance programs – such as those leaked by Edward Snowden earlier in the year.

Google is among the most vocal in pushing for government surveillance reform, and has updated their "Take Action" hub to feature a petitionwhich individuals can sign to "help make the internet more secure for everyone."

The USA Freedom 

In 2015, the USA Patriot Act is due to expire. A part of this law allows the American government to perform mass surveillance on its citizens. Internet denizens around the world have a chance when the act expires to get it changed to protect and treat internet users fairly.

Google notes, “In June of 2015, we have a huge chance to protect Americans from mass surveillance when a key part of the USA Patriot Act is set to expire.” The company goes on to state that “we need to be ready to take action this coming year.”

Throughout 2014, surveillance has been a consistent theme but little progress has been made in terms of reform. The USA Freedom Act failed to advance to a vote in the Senate after losing a procedural vote, thus ending any hope for reform this year of the NSA's often-criticised practices regarding surveillance.

Google carries huge political weight these days, as evidenced by this analysis by The Washington Post. The company's federal lobbying spending ranks alongside the biggest US corporations, and went from 213th place in 2004 to second place in 2012 with regards to expenditure. Needless to say, this represents a meteoric rise unlike any other company to mind.

We can hope the company's weight - along with the support of those signing its petition - will be enough to create real reform change in 2015. Google hasn't announced how many sign-ups it has received on its page, but claims that its "Take Action" campaign has more than three million members.

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Aircel Currently Offers Unlimited Roaming And STD Calls At 10paise Per Minute

Aircel, These Days Proclaimed The Launch Of Its Unlimited Roaming Proposition At Ten Paise Per Minute. Introduced Particularly On The Gay Occasion Of Holi, This Revolutionary Pack Can Supply The Lowest-Ever Unlimited Aircel To Aircel Roaming And STD Calls At Simply 10p/Min For Brand Spanking New And Existing Customers Each Time They Range On The Aircel Network.

Commenting on the launch, Anupam Vasudev, Chief Marketing Officer, Aircel, said, “We understand that a lot of our customers head to their homes, travel to meet their friends or go for holidays on the occasion of Holi. Therefore, we introduced this extremely affordable offer that will help them stay seamlessly connected and speak longer hours with their loved ones, even on roaming. It also brings us pride to launch another industry-first proposition that’s truly ground-breaking and we’re confident that it will truly bring ‘extra’ joy in the lives of all our customers.”

On Republic Day This Year, Aircel Launched Its Distinctive STD Proposition – Uniting Asian Country At  10p/Min – That Provides Unlimited STD And Native Occupation From Aircel To Aircel At 10p/Min Bundled With A Free Limitless Music Pack As One More Profit. With This, Aircel Currently Offers All 3 Services Unlimited – Native, STD And Roaming – At Ten Paise Per Minute. New Customers In Metropolis Are Ready To Avail The Profit Through A Straightforward And Convenient Pack Of Rs. 95, Valid For Thirty Days, Whereas Existing Customers Will Recharge With Rs. Sixty Three Valid For Twenty Eight Days.

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Aircel Launches Unlimited Whatsapp And Facebook At Re.1/Day In Urban Center Circle

Aircel Unveiled  A Sexy STV That Offers Absolutely Unlimited Whatsapp And Facebook Usage In Urban Center Circle At A Sexy Rate Of Re.1 Per Day. This Voucher Provides Free Usage For Browsing Facebook And Causation And Receiving Instant Messages On Whatsapp. This Voucher Doesn't Embody The Fresh Launched Voice Line Of Work Feature ByWhatsapp. The Voucher Is Just Applicable For Usage On 2G Information Network Not For Aircel’s 3G Network In Urban Center That It Operates On Rcom’s Network Through Sharing Agreement. The Voucher Will Either Be Signed On Daily Deduction Basis Or With Thirty Day Validity Through USSD Code Activation By Dialling *121*28#. Additionally Note That Such Packs Have Antecedently Been Offered By Operators Like Rcom, Docomo, Etc. And May Either Be Utilized In Combination With Regular Information Packs Or The User Must Be Able To Use A Firewall On His Smartphone Permitting Solely Whatsapp And Facebook To Access The Cellular Information Network Whereas Obstruction All DifferentInformation Traffic.

Aircel Has Been Attempting To Strengthen Its Network And Retail Presence In Urban Center Circle. Aircel Presently Has 1950 BTS Put In In Urban Center And Has Plans Of Adding Another Three Hundred By The Tip Of This Year. Aircel Has Seventy One Xpress Stores In Urban Center That It Plans To Extend To Two Hundred By The Tip Of This Year. It's Around Fourteen,500 Retail Bit Points Several Of That Are Enabled With The Power Of Lodging Complaints Through AN App Put In On The Retailer’s Mobile For Faster Redressal Of Grievances. Aircel Presently Holds Pan Asian Nation 2G Licence, 3G Spectrum In Thirteen Circles And BWA In Eight Circles. It's Not Clear On What Aircel’s Strategy With Regards To Spectrum Are Going To Be Once DOT Has Barred It From Bidding For Any New Spectrum In Bands That It Doesn’t Presently Have Spectrum In A Very Explicit Circle On Account Of Negative Internet Price.

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