{"id":2073,"date":"2026-03-02T11:27:49","date_gmt":"2026-03-02T10:27:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ic-services.io\/?p=2073"},"modified":"2026-10-21T14:13:14","modified_gmt":"2026-10-21T13:13:14","slug":"auslandskopfueberwachung-aku-lawful-interception-allemagne","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ic-services.io\/fr\/resources\/blog\/auslandskopfueberwachung-aku-lawful-interception-germany\/","title":{"rendered":"Auslandskopf\u00fcberwachung (AK\u00dc) : L'obligation allemande d'interception l\u00e9gale pour les transporteurs internationaux"},"content":{"rendered":"

Understanding Germany’s lawful interception requirements is essential for international carriers. Auslandskopf\u00fcberwachung is one of the most critical compliance requirements for telecommunications providers operating in Germany. AK\u00dc applies to operators of network nodes that switch publicly available voice calls to or from abroad: international gateways of fixed, mobile and VoIP networks, and voice transit carriers. Unlike normal interception, it also applies to transit networks without subscriber lines and to networks with no more than 10,000 users, which are otherwise exempt (\u00a7 3(2) sentence 2 TK\u00dcV). Pure internet transit and peering are not covered. This obligation is established in Germany’s Telecommunications Act (Telekommunikationsgesetz, TKG) and the Telecommunications Surveillance Ordinance (Telekommunikations-\u00dcberwachungsverordnung, TK\u00dcV). In practice, implementing Auslandskopf\u00fcberwachung represents a significant technical and organizational challenge that demands specialized expertise and close coordination with the Federal Network Agency (Bundesnetzagentur, BNetzA).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Qu'est-ce que l'Auslandskopf\u00fcberwachung (AK\u00dc) ?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Auslandskopf\u00fcberwachung, often abbreviated as AK\u00dc, is a legally mandated measure for the lawful interception of telecommunications between domestic and foreign networks in Germany. The term “Auslandskopf” (literally “foreign head”) refers to the network gateway point where domestic telecommunications traffic is handed over to a foreign network. At this point, network operators must be able to intercept and extract the telecommunications traffic of specific target persons upon an interception order (a court order under the StPO, or an order under the G10 Act for the intelligence services) and deliver it to the authorized agencies (berechtigte Stellen), such as the Federal Intelligence Service (Bundesnachrichtendienst, BND), federal and state police authorities, or the domestic intelligence services. Auslandskopf\u00fcberwachung covers international voice calls (fixed, mobile and VoIP) and encompasses the capture, filtering, and secure transmission of communication content and the related event data (IRI) to the authorized requesting agencies (Bedarfstr\u00e4ger).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cadre juridique : TKG \u00a7 170 et TK\u00dcV<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

AK\u00dc is defined in \u00a7 4(2) of the Telecommunications Surveillance Ordinance (TK\u00dcV)<\/strong>: calls between an unknown domestic line and a foreign number named in the order must be captured at the international gateway. The general duty to keep facilities comes from \u00a7 170 de la loi allemande sur les t\u00e9l\u00e9communications (TKG)<\/strong>, which governs the implementation of surveillance measures and the provision of information; \u00a7 3(2) sentence 2 TK\u00dcV extends AK\u00dc to transit and small networks. The technical design is agreed individually with the BNetzA (\u00a7 4(2) sentence 2 TK\u00dcV). Under \u00a7 170 (1) No. 1 TKG, every operator of a telecommunications system used to provide publicly accessible telecommunications services is obligated to maintain, at their own expense, technical facilities for the implementation of legally mandated surveillance measures and to make organizational provisions for their immediate execution from the moment of commencing operations. The Ordonnance sur la surveillance des t\u00e9l\u00e9communications (TK\u00dcV)<\/a><\/strong> further specifies these requirements, detailing the technical and organizational aspects of implementation including handover point specifications, transmission of the surveillance copy, security requirements, confidentiality obligations, and logging procedures. As with any interception, the copy must be delivered without encryption or compression that the operator itself applied (\u00a7 8(3) TK\u00dcV).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Qui est tenu de mettre en \u0153uvre l'Auslandskopf\u00fcberwachung ?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

The obligation to implement Auslandskopf\u00fcberwachung applies to operators of network nodes that switch publicly available voice calls to or from abroad. This includes international gateways of fixed, mobile and VoIP networks, voice transit carriers routing calls between Germany and foreign countries, and VoIP providers offering international call services. Because \u00a7 3(2) sentence 2 TK\u00dcV lifts the transit and small-network exemptions for such nodes, it also applies to transit networks without subscriber lines and to networks with no more than 10,000 users, which are otherwise exempt. Pure internet transit, peering and interconnection nodes are not covered (\u00a7 3(2) No. 2 TK\u00dcV). Companies without their own network infrastructure that offer international voice services via the facilities of other operators must, under \u00a7 170 (2) TKG, choose an operator that can implement interception orders<\/a> and tell the BNetzA which services they offer and who implements the orders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Exigences techniques pour la mise en \u0153uvre de l'AK\u00dc<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

La mise en \u0153uvre technique de l'Auslandskopf\u00fcberwachung n\u00e9cessite une infrastructure complexe compos\u00e9e de multiples \u00e9l\u00e9ments. Il faut d\u00e9ployer une plate-forme d'interception l\u00e9gale capable d'identifier, de filtrer et d'extraire le trafic de t\u00e9l\u00e9communications pertinent au niveau de la passerelle internationale. La transmission de la copie de surveillance aux agences autoris\u00e9es s'effectue par le biais de connexions crypt\u00e9es, g\u00e9n\u00e9ralement par l'interm\u00e9diaire d'un syst\u00e8me d'interception l\u00e9gale. Bo\u00eete SINA<\/strong> (Secure Inter-Network Architecture), which ensures tamper-proof communication between the network operator and the requesting agencies. The interfaces must comply with the Technical Directive issued by the BNetzA and be implemented according to the TR TK\u00dcV, which today requires IP-based handover (ETSI TS 102 232-1 with -5\/-6 for voice services; 3GPP TS 33.108\/33.128 for mobile networks). Additionally, strict security requirements under the TK\u00dcV must be observed, including access control, logging of all access events, deletion of order data after the measure expires, and a legally compliant role-based access concept as prescribed by the BNetzA.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Technical Concept: BNetzA Acceptance Process<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Avant la mise en service de l'Auslandskopf\u00fcberwachung, l'op\u00e9rateur de r\u00e9seau oblig\u00e9 doit pr\u00e9parer un plan d\u00e9taill\u00e9 pour la mise en service de l'Auslandskopf\u00fcberwachung. technical concept (Konzept, the documents under \u00a7 19(2) TK\u00dcV)<\/strong> and submit it to the Federal Network Agency. This concept describes the technical architecture, organizational procedures, and security measures for the AK\u00dc implementation; for AK\u00dc the design is agreed individually with the BNetzA (\u00a7 4(2) sentence 2 TK\u00dcV). The BNetzA checks the proof of compliance in an acceptance test, in which it verifies the technical facilities and organizational provisions on site. It does not approve or license the operator. Under \u00a7 170 (1) No. 4 TKG, the operator must send the documents and agree a test date with the BNetzA without delay, and no later than one month after starting operations. Preparing a concept that passes the acceptance test requires in-depth knowledge of the regulatory requirements and practical experience with Agr\u00e9ment de la BNetzA<\/a> proc\u00e9dures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Principaux d\u00e9fis en mati\u00e8re de conformit\u00e9 \u00e0 l'Auslandskopf\u00fcberwachung<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Auslandskopf\u00fcberwachung poses numerous challenges for carriers and network operators. The initial investment costs for procuring and deploying the technical infrastructure are substantial, particularly for smaller providers. Connecting to the agencies through the TK\u00dcV-VPN with an approved crypto box (currently the SINA box) requires specific security expertise and compliance with strict cryptographic standards. Ongoing operations include the timely execution of incoming surveillance orders, maintenance of technical systems, regular updates in line with amended Technical Directives, and the preparation of billing for completed measures. Furthermore, the BNetzA can order renewed inspections at any time to verify continued compliance. Errors or delays in implementation can result in significant regulatory penalties, making it essential for operators to have a reliable and proven solution in place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ICS : votre partenaire pour la mise en \u0153uvre d'Auslandskopf\u00fcberwachung en tant que service<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

En tant que fournisseur exp\u00e9riment\u00e9 de services d'interception l\u00e9gale, ICS (Services de transport international)<\/a> offers a complete AK\u00dc-as-a-Service solution for carriers, network operators, and providers in Germany. Our service covers the full lifecycle of Auslandskopf\u00fcberwachung compliance: preparation of the technical concept that you, as the obligated operator, submit to the BNetzA (\u00a7 170 (1) No. 4 TKG), deployment and operation of the lawful interception platform as your Erf\u00fcllungsgehilfe under \u00a7 5 (3) TK\u00dcV, connection to the requesting agencies through the TK\u00dcV-VPN with an approved crypto box, support during the BNetzA acceptance test, timely and legally compliant processing of incoming AK\u00dc orders, and ongoing reporting and billing management. By outsourcing Auslandskopf\u00fcberwachung to ICS, network operators save significant capital and operating expenses, reduce their compliance risk, and can focus on their core business. Notre solution AK\u00dc<\/a> is modular and supports fixed, mobile and VoIP voice traffic, allowing us to tailor the solution to the specific requirements of each customer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Agissez maintenant : Assurez votre conformit\u00e9 \u00e0 l'Auslandskopf\u00fcberwachung<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

The legal obligation for Auslandskopf\u00fcberwachung takes effect from the moment a provider commences operations. Any operator switching international voice calls in Germany that has not yet met its AK\u00dc requirements risks sanctions from the Federal Network Agency. Contact ICS today to learn how our AK\u00dc-as-a-Service solution can implement your Auslandskopf\u00fcberwachung obligations cost-effectively, while you remain the obligated operator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

Ressources externes<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Les ressources externes suivantes fournissent un contexte suppl\u00e9mentaire et une documentation officielle :<\/p>\n\n\n\n