Pacific Bell Mobile Services response statement to cellular cryptography research conducted by U.C. Berkeley

March 20, 1997

The following is a statement by Lyndon R. Daniels, president and CEO, Pacific Bell Mobile Services:

"Eavesdropping on wireless communications is an illegal activity equivalent to computer hacking, and the laws protecting the security of wireless conversations must be strengthened.

"To help protect the security of our subscribers' calls, Pacific Bell Mobile Services selected a network technology called Global System for Mobility (GSM). GSM offers multiple levels of security to the subscribers of Personal communications Services wireless phones.

"The Berkeley study affected only the Telecommunications Industry Association's Cellular Message Encryption Algorithm (CMEA), which is used in conventional digital cellular systems. The CMEA algorithm is not used in the GSM system selected by Pacific Bell Mobile Services."

CONTACT:
Pacific Telesis
Linda Bonniksen, 213/975-5061

up to CMEA

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