‘Buy from trusted sources solely’: Ahead of 5G rollout, Centre bars Chinese telecom gear

Express News Service

NEW DELHI: In an enormous blow to Chinese telecom gear producers forward of the 5G rollout, the Centre on Monday mandated telecom corporations to supply gadgets solely from ‘trusted sources’ for enlargement or upgradation of current networks.

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) issued a notification to this impact on Monday, tightening the principles for telecom licences.

The transfer is aimed toward stopping Chinese distributors similar to Huawei and ZTE from offering telecom gear to Indian telecom operators for the upcoming 5G companies. 

“With effect from 15th June 2021, the licensee shall only connect trusted products in its network and also seek permission from designated authority for upgradation or expansion of existing Network utilizing the telecommunication equipment not designated as trusted products,” reads the DoT notification. 

The authorities clarified that these instructions is not going to have an effect on ongoing annual upkeep contracts or software program updates to current gear. In 2021, the DoT had made the adjustments to the telecom licensing norms and included ‘defence’ and ‘national security’ as parameters for the acquisition of trusted telecom merchandise. Following this, the designated authority can ask telecom corporations to not use merchandise deemed unsafe. In the most recent notification, the DoT added the phrase ‘expansion’ to the licence situations.

Chinese tech giants Huawei and ZTE are but to finish paperwork to hunt ‘trusted sources’ approval. Several international locations, together with the US, UK and Sweden have blocked operators from utilizing gear made by Huawei over safety issues. Countries similar to Canada accused Huawei of spying for the Chinese authorities. 

“We have found that these Chinese telecom gears are not safe at all. It is dangerous to use these devices,” mentioned an official with the telecom ministry.

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