HP has announced a new data retention solution for telecommunication service providers that are being asked by governments to join the fight against global terrorism, organised crime and drug trafficking.

The world’s service providers face a formidable challenge as many might be asked by governments to collect and store data from a variety of sources, such as fixed and mobile telephony, e-mail and voicemail, Internet usage, IP (Internet Protocol) telephony, text messaging, and even usage of custom calling features such as call waiting, three-way calling and call forwarding.

This means the typical network operator might be storing billions of daily call records and event transactions.

The HP Data Retention And Guardian On-line (Dragon) solution goes beyond conventional storage. It is a comprehensive solution designed specifically for service providers that need a scalable system that enables them to capture massive volumes of voice and data traffic on their networks, retain it for months and years, and retrieve selected records – almost in real time – if asked by government agencies. The system also has robust security features to protect individual privacy.

HP Dragon is currently deployed with seven telecom service providers in Italy and Turkey. The European Union has approved data retention requirements and its 27 member nations are incorporating the legal framework into national legislation.

Dragon leverages HP’s 30 years of experience in telecom networks and 10 years of experience in the retention of call detail records. The solution architecture, based on recognised industry standards, provides a high degree of flexibility and scalability to accommodate growth and changing requirements.

To handle inquiries from law enforcement agencies, the solution features a multi-tier data archive, a powerful search and retrieval engine, and prioritisation intelligence – all of which combine to deliver the required information, quickly and efficiently.