Cellphones & prison cells, it's merry in Maryland

COLUMBIA, US: At Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services now iNAC will block unauthorized communications, permit legitimate subscribers to complete calls, and offer law enforcement features.

Tecore Networks, a supplier of multi-technology 2G, 3G and 4G mobile network infrastructure has demonstrated its Intelligent Network Access Controller (iNAC) as the optimal solution for contraband cell phone use by inmates in prison.

The demonstration was hosted by the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services, and featured controlled tests of call and text message blocking, 911 call completion and lawful intercept. The tests were completed for each of the top four U.S. commercial carriers, showing the iNAC’s multi-technology capabilities, a press note tells.

Based on an all-IP architecture capable of supporting multiple technologies including the GSM and CDMA families, iNAC serves as a unified gateway to all commercial cellular networks in a defined area. iNAC captures information about the SIM card and device, and originating and terminating telephone numbers. The system has managed access, cell detection and lockdown as three modes of operation.

Cell detection allows all calls to be completed on the commercial networks while capturing SIM, device and call information. In lockdown, no communications are allowed (with optional exceptions such as 911). Additional features and benefits include support for lawful intercept; robust physical security measures including isolated physical points of presence when operated on-site; and the option to receive iNAC as a centralized managed service.

The iNAC Managed Access System has been fully deployed in a correctional institution with many results, including the initial detection of – and subsequent prevention of – hundreds of calls per day.