Telecom products: Govt to come out with ‘trusted, ‘non-trusted’ sources
The move could potentially make it more difficult for Chinese telecom equipment vendors like Huawei and ZTE to supply equipment to Indian telecom players. December 17, 2020 3:02:50 am
As a part of the new national security directive, a list of sources from whom no product can be procured will also be provided to the telecom service providers.
The Cabinet Committee on Security on Wednesday approved the setting up of a new National Security Directive on telecommunication sector with an intent to classify telecom products and their sources under the ‘trusted’ and ‘non-trusted’ categories.
Centre announces National Security Directive on Telecom Sector for secure networks
In a bid to tighten security of communications network, the Cabinet Committee on Security on Wednesday announced the National Security Directive on Telecommunication Sector, which will mandate service providers to purchase equipment from trusted sources.
Law and Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said the directive has been framed from the perspective of national security. Considering the need to ensure India s national security, the Cabinet has accorded approval for the National Security Directive on Telecommunication Sector, Prasad said.
Under the provisions of this directive, the government will declare a list of trusted sources and trusted products for installation in the country s telecom network.
CCS approves National Security Directive on Telecom Sector, govt to declare list of trusted sources ANI | Updated: Dec 16, 2020 19:36 IST
New Delhi [India], December 16 (ANI): In a significant decision to enhance national security, the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) has accorded approval for National Security Directive on Telecommunication sector under which the government will declare a list of trusted sources, trusted products for the benefit of telecom service providers to maintain the integrity of the supply chain security.
Briefing reporters after a meeting of union cabinet, Minister for Communications, Electronics and Information Technology Ravi Shankar Prasad said that telecom service providers are required to connect new devices which are designated trusted products.
Synopsis
Telecom Service Providers (TSP) are required to connect new devices which are designated ‘Trusted Products”, the government said. The Designated Authority will make its determination based on approval of a committee headed by Deputy NSA.
Agencies
The government said that the present Directive does not envisage mandatory replacement of the existing equipment already inducted in the networks of the telecom service providers.
NEW DELHI: The Cabinet Committee on Security has given its approval for the National Security Directive on the Telecommunication Sector. The decision was taken to ensure India’s national security.
Under this, the government will declare a list of trusted sources/products for the benefit of telecom service providers in order to maintain integrity of supply chain security.
Under a new directive from the government, telecom service providers (TSPs) have been mandated to purchase equipment only from “trusted sources”. The government will also create a list of sources from whom no procurement can be done. The Cabinet Committee on Security accorded approval to the National Security Directive on Telecommunication Sector on Wednesday. The move to create a secured national network, many experts said, would extend the restrictions on the use of Chinese gear by private sector TSPs in future 5G networks. Till now, the government has neither rejected nor approved Chinese gear maker’s applications for 5G trials with Indian TSPs. Chinese telecom firms have said they have always been “open” for scrutiny.