Most countries have negative lists, a senior government official said. We are not building walls. We will have a gate, open for all trusted firms, he added. That way, weeks after the banning of Chinese apps, there will be no reference to any country or firm. There won t be any need, for instance, to ban a Chinese firm.
After the list is ready, products from the designated firms can be purchased by telecom service providers. But there is a need for mandatory replacement or changes in maintenance contracts. The firms that will be allowed in will be called Indian Trusted Sources and the government policy will come into force 180 days after it is finalized.
Govt s National Security Directive could rein in firms like Chinese telecom gear maker Huawei
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. PTI
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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.
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Indian media reported on December 16 that the Narendra Modi government has decided to issue certification for equipment used by telecom companies in the country based on their perceived security risk. Such certification could pave the way for an effective ban on the acquisition of Chinese telecom equipment in the future, including those related to 5G internet solutions. The decision follows a meeting of the Indian Cabinet on Wednesday, leading to a new National Security Directive on the Telecommunication Sector.
According to the Hindustan Times, the certification would be issued by a new National Security Committee on Telecom headed by Deputy National Security Advisor Rajinder Khanna, a former chief of the Research and Analysis Wing, India’s lead external intelligence agency. The newspaper quotes Ravi Shankar Prasad, minister of telecommunications, as saying after the cabinet meeting: “This is a very important decision with respect to national security.” It also