EelcoV - Slashdot User

Comment: Re:What are the costs? (Score 1) 141

by EelcoV on Monday August 17 2009, @12:43AM (#29088523) Attached to: Open Source GSM Network At Dutch Hacker Convention

If there is spectrum available, and if licensed spectrum users are not harmed in their rights, and if there is a bona fide reason for running an experiment, then an experimental license can be granted, with limitations on transmission power and duration. The fee will be cost based, unlike the commercial GSM licenses, which were auctioned.

Open Source GSM Network At Dutch Hacker Convention 141

Posted by timothy on Sunday August 16 2009, @08:15PM
from the working-sort-of-within-the-system dept.

solevita writes "Harald Welte, who's been interviewed previously by Slashdot, has written on his blog about operating an Open Source GSM network at the recent HAR2009 conference. Photographs and a description of the setup, run under license of the Dutch regulatory authority, are provided; essentially the setup consisted of a pair of BTS' (Base Transceiver Stations) running at 100mW transmit power each and tied to a tree. In turn these provided access to the Base Station Controller (BSC), in this case a Linux server in a tent running OpenBSC. The system authenticated users with a token sent via SMS; in total 391 users subscribed to the service and were able to use their phones as if they were on any other network. Independent researchers are increasingly examining GSM networks and equipment, Welte's work proves that GSM is in the realm of the hackers now and that this realm of mobile networking could be set for a few surprises in the future."

Comment: Re:EU law (Score 1) 210

by EelcoV on Saturday November 10 2007, @04:04AM (#21305061) Attached to: Germany Implements Sweeping Data Retention Policies

Wow, finally a sensible statement is being made! Why doesn't anyone congratulate Germany for choosing the least privacy-harming option? The directive allows a retention period between 6 months and 24 months. Already the Netherlands opted for 18. Germany's 6 months is the best possible.

And no, the law does not allow for the retention of email headers. Headers are considered "content of communication", and retention of content is strictly forbidden. It's the sender's address and recipients' addresses from the SMTP envelope that are retained.