Group 2000 addresses Europol's Concerns on Home Routing and Its Impact on Law Enforcement: LIMA S8 HomeRouting

Last week, Europol published an article highlighting the increasing challenges posed by home routing to law enforcement agencies' ability to gather evidence. Group 2000  deeply invested in ensuring the resilience and security of communication networks, we recognize the importance of addressing these concerns head-on. In this newsletter, we aim to provide an overview of Europol’s findings and share our perspective on how Law enforcement, Mobile Telecommunication operators and the industry can adapt to these emerging challenges.

Summary of Europol's Article

Europol's recent article, titled "Home Routing Limiting Law Enforcement Evidence Gathering", discusses the shift towards home routing in mobile networks and its implications for law enforcement. Home routing, which involves directing mobile traffic through the user’s home country regardless of their location, poses significant hurdles for law enforcement agencies (LEAs). The article warns that this technology complicates the traditional methods of evidence gathering, as data is no longer readily accessible in the jurisdiction where the device is being used.

Our Perspective

At Group 2000, we understand the complexities introduced by home routing and the critical need for LEAs to adapt to these changes. While home routing enhances user privacy and security[MP2]  but also strongly reduces the costs, it also necessitates the development of innovative solutions to support lawful interception and evidence gathering.

Key Challenges Identified

1. Jurisdictional Barriers: Data routed through the home country can limit the ability of LEAs in other jurisdictions to access critical information.
2. Increased Encryption: Home routing often involves advanced encryption techniques, further complicating data interception and analysis.
3. Delay in Evidence Gathering: The process of obtaining data from foreign jurisdictions can introduce delays, hampering timely investigations.
4. Increased adoption of VoLTE: possibility to fallback to 2G/3G for VoLTE inbound roamers is no longer possible due to phasing out of 2G/3G networks.

LIMA LMISF: The Solution

Group 2000's LIMA LMISF is designed to address these interception challenges in VoLTE inbound roaming scenarios. By providing a carrier-grade solution compliant with ETSI/3GPP standards (3GPP TS 33 108), LIMA LMISF ensures seamless integration with[MP4] the Bearer Binding Intercept and Forward Function (BBIFF) from major network vendors. Lima LMISF is easy to deploy and standard of the shelf available.

Key Benefits

• Enhanced Interception Capabilities: Enables local law enforcement to intercept VoLTE calls routed through home networks.
• Compliance and Reliability: Adheres to international standards ensuring robust and reliable operation.
• Seamless Integration: Compatible with existing network infrastructure for quick and efficient deployment.

As VoLTE adoption continues to grow, the necessity for effective interception solutions becomes ever more critical. Group 2000’s LIMA LMISF ensures that mobile network operators can meet lawful interception requirements, supporting law enforcement in maintaining security and order.