CHAPTER 4: TECHNOLOGY
Fragmentation of providers
4.14.
The infrastructure of the internet has resulted in the fragmentation of providers of both
telecommunications services and communications data. This is illustrated by a
comparison of the business models behind a landline call and a VOIP call. Thus:
(a)
Landline calls are made through a UK CSP to which the owner subscribes, such
as BT or Talk Talk. The CSP knows both endpoints of the call and collects
billing data.
(b)
Most VOIP services are currently provided by OTT providers, such as Skype.
These operate over an internet connection which a CSP has provided.
4.15.
Many OTT providers are based overseas, with the result that it is more difficult for UK
law enforcement and security and intelligence agencies to obtain information from
them. The services provided by OTT providers are often free, and limited subscriber
data are collected.13
In addition, communications data relating to a single
communication may not be in a single location due to the collaboration of companies.
4.16.
The internet protocol multimedia sub-system [IMS] is a framework designed to
standardise methods of delivering voice or other multimedia services over an internet
protocol packet-switched network. It may reduce fragmentation of providers, as it
fuses internet and mobile networks and so allows CSPs to support applications such
as VOIP and instant messaging. CSPs will be able to compete with OTT providers in
the provision of such applications. However, it is likely to lead to greater fragmentation
of communications data as new and common identifiers take over from email and
phone numbers across multiple devices.
Difficulties in attributing communications
4.17.
The infrastructure of the internet can make it difficult to attribute communications to
their sender and so offers a “cloak of anonymity” for communications.14
4.18.
An Internet Protocol [IP] address [IP address] is the identifier for a device on a
network. The address may be static or dynamic and is usually written and displayed
in the following format: 172.16.254.1 (IPv4 – 32 bits), and 2001:db8:0:1234:0:567:8:1
(IPv6 – 128 bits). IPv6 is the latest version of the Internet Protocol.
(a)
13
14
Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol is used to allocate IP addresses
dynamically to devices connected to a network. For example, CSPs assign an
IP address to a router and all devices connected to the router use it to form a
private IP network. All the connections from the devices on the private network
appear to come from the single IP address assigned to the router by using
Network Address Translation. CSPs have a pool of IP addresses which are
allocated dynamically in sequence, so that a customer’s external IP address
Talk Talk’s submission pointed out that business models are constantly changing in the OTT sector. For
example, WhatsApp was free but is now starting to charge in certain circumstances. Colin Crowell
described OTT providers as being in “continual evolution”, JCDCDB, Oral Evidence, p. 235.
@War, Shane Harris, 2014, p. 20.
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