Traffic Analysis - in Military Intelligence

In Military Intelligence

In a military context, traffic analysis is a basic part of signals intelligence, and can be a source of information about the intentions and actions of the enemy. Representative patterns include:

• Frequent communications — can denote planning
• Rapid, short, communications — can denote negotiations
• A lack of communication — can indicate a lack of activity, or completion of a finalized plan
• Frequent communication to specific stations from a central station — can highlight the chain of command
• Who talks to whom — can indicate which stations are 'in charge' or the 'control station' of a particular network. This further implies something about the personnel associated with each station
• Who talks when — can indicate which stations are active in connection with events, which implies something about the information being passed and perhaps something about the personnel/access of those associated with some stations
• Who changes from station to station, or medium to medium — can indicate movement, fear of interception

There is a close relationship between traffic analysis and cryptanalysis (commonly called codebreaking). Callsigns and addresses are frequently encrypted, requiring assistance in identifying them. Traffic volume can often be a sign of an addressee's importance, giving hints to pending objectives or movements to cryptanalysts.