Chinese Company Huawei's Equipment Will Not be Used For Mobile Networks in India
In the midst of the ongoing military dispute and the border
skirmishes with China, the Government of India sources have confirmed that the
Department of Telecom has asked BSNL not to use Chinese equipment
manufacturer’s gear in the upgradation of its 4G mobile networks in the
country. The DoT is also going to rework the 4G telecom equipment tender
floated by state-run Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd. (BSNL) and Mahanagar Telephone
Nigam Ltd. (MTNL), in order to keep the Chinese company out. India on Wednesday
told China that its attack on Indian soldiers at Galwan Valley was 'pre-meditated'
and there will be 'consequences'.
It is also believed that the DoT wants private mobile
service providers to avoid using network equipment made by Huawei and ZTE. It
is believed that persistent reports of security concerns with network equipment
manufactured by Huawei, which is believed to enable the Chinese government to
snoop in, also played a role in these decisions. There will be a requirement
for private mobile companies to also reduce the usage of existing Huawei
equipment, if any, gradually. Govt sources also say that the security features
and ownership pattern of HUAWEI and ZTE are a sticking point in India’s network
upgradation plans.
Huawei is one of the world's leading mobile network
equipment manufacturers and competes for the same businesses as European
telecom companies Nokia and Ericsson. Huawei is also one of the few companies
that are capable of building 5G networks. However, over the past year, a number
of countries now see Huawei as a potential threat to cybersecurity and the
privacy of their citizens, amidst multiple reports that the company's equipment
offers a backdoor to facilitate cyber espionage by the Chinese government, to
which it is said to have close links. Huawei have consistently denied such
reports.
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