The latest technology in wireless communication, 5G, has been launched worldwide, and it’s time that Indian telecoms also put their hands in this growing business. But the problem remains as to which vendor will be most suitable for the Indian telecoms to procure the infrastructure.
As we already know, Huawei was a leader in 5G technology, but because it became a US administration target over the US-China trade war, procuring the tech from Chinese tech is no longer an option. The budding relationship between India and China removed Huawei as an option for a possible vendor.
According to recent sources, the Union Cabinet has approved a ‘National Security Direction on Telecommunications Sector.’ It will be creating a list of ‘trusted’ vendors from whom telecommunications companies like Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel, and Vodafone-Idea can procure telecom equipment.
“Under the provisions of this directive, to maintain the integrity of supply-chain security, the government will declare a list of ‘trusted’ sources and products for the benefit of telecom service providers (TSPs).”
It will be the National Cyber Security Coordinator (NCSC) job, Lieutenant General Rajesh Pant, to decide who goes on the list and who stays off of it. But the decision will be made based on the approval of a committee headed by one of India’s Deputy National Security Advisors (DNSA).
Reports indicate that the telecoms can keep their already existing tech, which is already inducted into the network. Neither will the Government ask them to replace their entire tech. The acquiring process is open for discussion from the vendors and TSPs.
“Guidance for how in house supervision and control can be maintained by TSPs will be issued by the designated authority at regular intervals.”
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