Government action effectively means that certain telecommunications equipment China’s suppliers may face new obstacles.
“The Cabinet Security Committee has approved the National Security Directive in the Telecommunications Sector. In accordance with this, to maintain the integrity of the supply chain security, the government will declare a list of trusted sources / products for the benefit of telecommunications service providers “. Union Minister of Telecommunications Ravi Shankar Prasad said.
He added that companies will be able to buy telecommunications equipment from these reliable sources.
Under the provisions of this directive, the government will declare a list of reliable sources and reliable products for installation in the country’s telecommunications network.
“The methodology for designating trusted products will be devised by the designated authority, the National Cyber Security Coordinator. Telecommunications service providers must connect new devices that are designated as trusted products,” Prasad said.
“The list of reliable source and the product will be decided with the approval of a committee headed by the deputy national security adviser. The committee will be comprised of members from relevant departments and ministries and will also have two members from industry and independent experts. The committee will be called the national security committee on telecommunications, “added Prasad.
He also said that the new directive will also not affect annual maintenance contracts or upgrades of existing equipment already installed on the network as of the effective date of the directive.
It has provisions to qualify telecommunications equipment manufactured by national players in the trust category.
“Those who meet the criteria of the Department of Telecommunications Preferential Market Access (PMA) scheme will be certified as trusted sources from India. The National Telecommunications Security Committee will take steps to increase the use of equipment from those trusted Indian sources. “said Prasad. .
The PMA scheme gives weight to telecommunications gears developed and manufactured by local companies.
The DoT will properly notify the guidelines and ensure the monitoring of compliance by telecommunications service providers with the directive.
“The Department of Telecom will make the appropriate modifications to the license conditions for the implementation of the provisions of the directive. The policy will become operational after 180 days from the date of approval,” said Prasad.
The government had previously blocked 43 mobile apps, including Alibaba Workbench, AliExpress, Alipay Cashier, CamCard, and WeDate, for engaging in activities detrimental to India’s sovereignty, integrity, defense, security and public order.
On June 29, the government had blocked access to 59 Chinese apps, including the very popular TikTok and UC Browser, and on September 2, another 118 apps including PUBG Mobile Nordic Map, Livik, PUBG Mobile Lite, WeChat Work, Baidu , Tencent Weiyun, among others. they were prohibited under section 69A of the Information Technology Act.
Since the app’s ban, Chinese companies have been playing wait and watch while also monitoring mounting tensions between the two neighbors over a worsening border dispute.
“The legal option is always open to us. However, we would first like to present our case and try to convince the Indian government that their accusations are unfounded and not based on facts, “said a senior official at a major Chinese company, requesting anonymity.
Meanwhile, the Union Cabinet also approved on Wednesday the next spectrum auction round to be held in March in which 2,251 megahertz frequencies will be sold.
The government will not put spectrum frequencies that have been identified for 5G services up for sale.
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