The home ministry has asked all mobile phone companies to store all text messages for six months, against the current practice where they are usually saved for just a couple of days, a step telcos say will considerably increase their operational costs.

As per the research it is found that Indians send 130 to 150 billion text messages, a month. Storing text messages will require operators to invest in data centres, and telcos fear that the government may soon extend demands for storing voice calls.

According to sources, presently, lawful interception is only done for calls and text messages from specific numbers on the instructions of security agencies. Intelligence agencies are of the view that archiving all SMSes over a six-month period is vital to meet security requirements of the country, and this proposal was outlined to telcos during a recent meeting.

According to reports the industry would jointly take up this issue with the Centre. Telcos alleged that the Center must first spell out privacy issues and frame laws that will address concerns related to storing text messages for a six-month period.

India has over 700 million cellular connections and customers enjoy the lowest call rates in the world. As per the operators, setting up data centres for SMS storage will force them to pass on the costs to customers. They also add that operating costs per tower will be up by 50%, unless the government agrees to their demands for a phased implementation of tracking devices on cell towers.

The home ministry had recently asked mobile firms to upgrade their networks infrastructure to implement a system similar to that of Enhanced 911 or E911 in the US.

According to an executive of a telecom company, all the data collected by location measuring units will have to be hauled back to the network operating centre either on fibre on backhaul increasing the operating .