The Indian government has rejected concerns of the international trade association, US-India Business Council (USIBC) about local screening of imported telecom network equipment used in domestic mobile networks. The telecom department has dismissed this on grounds that the government had made security-related operator licence amendments issued in May 2011, after consultations with the home ministry and all stakeholders, including USIBC.
USIBC recently approached the Indian embassy in Washington, raising concerns over India’s insistence on domestic security testing of telecom gear, regardless of the country’s inclusion as an authorising member-nation within the Common Criteria Recognition Arrangement (CCRA), The CCRA is the leading global agency that defines common processes to certify ICT products used in infrastructure networks across telecom, power, aviation and defence sectors.
By virtue of India’s ‘authorising nation’ status, certified Indian labs can test ICT products manufactured in any CCRA member country. Such testing will be recognised by the 27 CCRA members, which include the US, Canada, the UK, Germany, France and Japan as long as the Indian labs adhere to specified standards.
DoT is of the view that the authorising nation status for testing under CCRA does not change the Indian government?s position on security testing and certification of imported telecom gear on national security considerations. The telecom department had originally mandated service providers to use only those network devices, from April 1, 2013, that are deemed secured by a certified local test lab, but the exercise has been progressively delayed as no such lab has been set up in the country.
To ensure local screening starts from April 1 2015, DoT is expediting steps to establish telecom gear test labs in the country. In this regard, the department has been contemplating to allow 74 per cent foreign ownership in such entities, with a rider that such foreign holdings will need to be reduced to 49 per cent in three years.
