DoT to check Chinese tele gear used for expansions – Times of India
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NEW DELHI: In a further tightening of telecom infra projects executed by Chinese majors Huawei and ZTE, the department of telecom (DoT) has said that only trusted products from approved companies should be involved in “expansion” of existing networks, or otherwise permission needs to be taken from ‘designated authority’ of the government.
The DoT issued a new notification on Monday which added the word “expansion” along with the previously-mentioned “upgradation” where permission would be required from the government’s body. However, the DoT maintained the previous exemption given for projects involving annual maintenance contracts or updates to equipment already inducted into the network. The amendments will be applicable for all telecom licences.
In 2020, the government had approved the National Security Directive on the telecommunication sector. Under this, the government had decided to declare a list of trusted sources and trusted products for installation in the country’s telecom network. Till date, the government has not included any Chinese equipment in the list.
The controls had been ordered amid growing concerns in the government over “meddling of Chinese elements” in India’s critical infrastructure. The government felt the need to secure the vital and burgeoning Indian telecom space from untrusted vendors and unwanted elements at a time when border and diplomatic disputes with the country’s neighbour remain broadly unresolved.
The DoT issued a new notification on Monday which added the word “expansion” along with the previously-mentioned “upgradation” where permission would be required from the government’s body. However, the DoT maintained the previous exemption given for projects involving annual maintenance contracts or updates to equipment already inducted into the network. The amendments will be applicable for all telecom licences.
In 2020, the government had approved the National Security Directive on the telecommunication sector. Under this, the government had decided to declare a list of trusted sources and trusted products for installation in the country’s telecom network. Till date, the government has not included any Chinese equipment in the list.
The controls had been ordered amid growing concerns in the government over “meddling of Chinese elements” in India’s critical infrastructure. The government felt the need to secure the vital and burgeoning Indian telecom space from untrusted vendors and unwanted elements at a time when border and diplomatic disputes with the country’s neighbour remain broadly unresolved.
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