No blanket ban on import of China-made telecom equipment

New Delhi, Apr 30 (PTI) The Indian government Friday
said there was no blanket ban on the import of any Chinese
telecom equipment and such a decision is taken on each and
individual company.
"I don't think there is any blanket ban on import of
any Chinese telecom equipment," India's Home Secretary G K
Pillai said when asked whether any restriction has been
imposed on the import of China-made telecom equipment.
He said any such decision is taken on case by case
taking into account activities of individual company.
"It depends on each and individual company. We look at
the security implications...," Pillai said.
The Department of Telecom also made it clear that no
blanket ban has been imposed on any company.
The DoT said the telecom network service providers,
when they enter into licence agreements with the government,
have to provide details of equipment to be procured in a
prescribed proforma.
"DoT, thereafter, refers the matter to Ministry of
Home Affairs for security clearance. Whichever company gets
security clearance, is allowed to procure the equipment," a
Telecom Ministry spokesperson said.
Chinese telecom equipment vendor Huawei had expressed
concern over reports of imposing ban on it and called for "a
fair and non-discriminatory policy" to address the issue of
security clearance for its products.
"It is the hope of Huawei and it is also in the
interest of the industry that a fair and non-discriminatory
policy to address this issue is in place and a mutually-
beneficial and win-win resolution can be realised through
transparent and sincere communication and cooperation," Huawei
said in a statement.
The Chinese firm was responding to reports that
suggested that based on advisory from intelligence agencies,
DoT had said procurement of equipment from manufacturers of
that country will not be recommended for clearance unless
there is complete supply chain overseeing and auditing to the
satisfaction of DoT.
It, however, said that "Huawei India has not received
official communication on this matter".
Telecom operators are required to get a security
clearance before placing purchase orders for equipment with
the foreign equipment vendors.
Security agencies had raised concerns over deploying
telecom networks using equipment from Chinese vendors citing
security reasons. PTI ACB
MRD


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