About OpenLI

OpenLI is a software solution that can provide a complete LI system for a telecommunications provider. OpenLI works on fixed-line IP based and 4G mobile networks and will intercept voice, data, email and SMS communications.

OpenLI is used in production in New Zealand and internationally. It has been tested with law enforcement in multiple jurisdictions.

OpenLI is a modular, high performance LI implementation that supports a range of network equipment. It is professionally supported and new features and equipment integrations are continuously being developed.

Key Features

  • EASY TO MANAGE + DEPLOY

    OpenLI is a set of linux applications. It is available packaged for Debian/Ubuntu and Redhat EL distributions. It can be managed by standard tools and it can runs in VMs and containers. It uses standard interfaces for interception.

  • HIGH PERFORMANCE

    OpenLI supports multi-gigabit throughput on modern hardware. It supports DPDK interfaces for high performance network capture. The ASN.1 encoding engine is highly multi-threaded. The mediator supports multiple LEAs and is non blocking.

  • SCALABLE

    OpenLI installations support multiple collectors and mediators to be extended for network coverage or performance as required.

  • WIDELY TESTED + DEPLOYED

    OpenLI is used by most of the mandated telecommunications providers in NZ. It has also been adopted by providers in Australia, Germany and Brazil. Service providers from several other countries are currently evaluating or planning to use OpenLI.

  • CAPTURE TYPES SUPPORTED

    • Full data capture

    • VoIP - RTP media

    • SIP and Radius signalling

    • Email (SMTP/ POP/ IMAP)

    • 4G (GTP, Location and SMS)

  • INTEGRATION

    OpenLI provides a REST interface for configuration and monitoring. It can be integrated with other systems to provide a complete LI solution.

  • VENDOR SUPPORT

    OpenLI can ingest intercepted data directly from Cisco, Juniper and Nokia BNGs. It also supports Mikrotik TZSP.

  • SUPPORTED + MAINTAINED

    OpenLI is supported and maintained by Searchlight NZ. Support contracts, customisation services, design and installation services are all available.

  • LICENSE

    OpenLI is distributed under the GPL v3 open source license.

Project history

In NZ the 2013 TICSA legislation required telecommunications providers with more than 4000 customers to have LI capabilities. The technical requirements were gazetted in 2017 specifying the ETSI standards. A discussion developed in the NZ Network Operators Group around ways for providers to work together to obtain a cheaper solution than the commercial options available. This conversation resulted in a group of companies sponsoring the WAND Network Research Group at the University of Waikato to write an open source LI system. In 2023, Waikato transferred OpenLI to Searchlight Ltd to continue to maintain and support.