---
category: Intelligence Concept
created: 2025-07-22
description: SIGINT (Signals Intelligence) and COMINT (Communications Intelligence)
  refer to intelligence gathered by intercepting electronic signals and communications.
summary: SIGINT (Signals Intelligence) covers the interception of virtually all electronic
  signals, while COMINT (Communications Intelligence) generally refers to signals
  from telephone or radio conversations.
tags:
- intelligence
- signals
title: SIGINT/COMINT
updated: 2025-07-22
---

SIGINT (Signals Intelligence) covers the interception of virtually all electronic signals, while COMINT (Communications Intelligence) generally refers to signals from telephone or radio conversations. Led by the [NSA](/organizations/nsa/) SIGINT/COMINT rapidly became one of the most important intelligence-gathering technologies during the Cold War.[^1]

The sheer volume of data collected through SIGINT/COMINT often required heavy reliance on computers to automatically sift through intercepts for worthwhile material. Like other intelligence disciplines such as [HUMINT](/concepts/human-intelligence/), PHOTINT/IMINT, and [ELINT](/concepts/elint/), SIGINT/COMINT was used in conjunction with other sources to confirm and complement information. The emergence of [PSI-INT](/concepts/psi-int/) offered another potential avenue for intelligence collection.[^1]

---

[^1]: Schnabel, Jim. *Remote Viewers*. Dell, 1997.