Milind Deora, Minister of State for Communications and Information Technology in a written reply to the Lok Sabha has stated that the government is aware of the security agencies? concerns about the foreign telecom equipment companies managing the 4G networks of Indian operators.
Deora informed Lok Sabha that a reference has been received from a security agency which says that Bharti Airtel is using time division-long term evolution technology equipment developed by the China-based vendor ZTE for rolling out its 4G services in the Kolkata circle.
Deora added that the government was in the process of collecting information from Bharti Airtel with regard to number of towns and cities in the country where its 4G network is managed by ZTE. The government will look at ascertaining the role of ZTE in managing the operator?s 4G network and adequacy of training to local personnel of the operator.
Deora informed Lok Sabha that the government has mandated that licensee shall induct only those network elements into his telecom network, which have been tested as per relevant contemporary Indian or international security standards from any international agency/labs until March 31, 2013.
From April 1, 2013 the foreign telecom vendors will have to get certification done only from authorised and certified agencies/labs in India.
