These last weeks, the National Council of Telecommunications (CONATEL), with the help of the National Police of Haiti (PNH) and the technical support of mobile phone companies, proceeded to the dismantling of several networks of criminals who pirated telephone networks by ending on these networks, voice traffic from abroad without prior authorization. Note that this process, known as Bypass takes advantage of the dedicated links to the Internet to make international calls as local calls.

During the various operations conducted in Petion-Ville, Delmas and Carrefour, police seized equipment that can complete up to 400 simultaneous calls and also made ​​several arrests.

While the first network was dismantled in May, CONATEL and PNH remained quiet about the identity of the alleged harasser, in order not to hinder ongoing investigations, what appears today as a wide-scale traffic with branches abroad. The investigations that followed, have allowed to trace other operations and research are ongoing.

CONATEL remember that following these piracy, the Haitian State has suffered a shortfall estimated at nearly one million American dollars, which represents a loss of revenue for both the state, as for phone operators.

While welcoming the collaboration between all parties, including the PNH, the Council warns all those whose intention it might to continue these activities.

CONATEL recalls that these illegal activities are punishable under the laws that govern matter in Haiti, including the fact that these individuals are operating in Haiti unlicensed, divert communications and hinder the proper functioning of communications in the country, causing serious financial damage to the country, especially as the revenue generated by these fraudulent activities are transferred abroad.

The National Telecommunications Council encourages anyone who holds information relating to any individual engaged in such activities, to contact him. It ensures that the information received will be treated confidentially and no action will be taken against those who would have brought their cooperation and contributed to the progress of investigations in these cases.

Learn more about the Bypass :

For example a call via a legitimate route would normally cost $0.8 with an initiation fee of $0.5 in country A and a termination fee of $0.3 in country B. In the case of a bypass through VoIP (Voice over IP) the initiation fee is $0.15 and the termination fee is $0.05. The mobile operator in country B loses $0.25 (0.3-0.05) in termination fees, which results in an 83% loss, so the state also loses income (tax). There are also bypass via GSM technology (GSM Gateway), Bypass can also be national, incoming or outgoing. Bypassing interconnect points via cheaper routes such as the Internet.

See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-9840-haiti-justice-dismantling-of-a-network-of-phone-fraud.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-4530-haiti-communication-important-seizure-of-telephony-equipment.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-3187-haiti-communication-meeting-at-the-palace-to-fight-the-bypassing.html

HL/ HaitiLibre