The Indian Institute of Science (IISc) has told the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) that its upcoming telecom lab does not pose a security threat, despite its tie-up with Huawei Technologies.
The lab is being built to address the concerns raised by intelligence and security agencies over Chinese vendors in India.
Thereafter, DoT is expected to notify the Prime Minister’s Office, which had raised concerns about IISc’s collaboration with Huawei.
Prior to this, it was reported that Huawei Technologies was asked by the Indian government to provide know-how and equipment for a facility that would function as a clearing house for all imported telecom gear.
Huawei and IIS, where the testing lab will be housed, were to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU), under which the Chinese company was to provide documentation, expertise, methods and standards for studying telecom equipment.
The government had approached the vendor as no Indian firm manufactures telecom gear and no other foreign company was willing to assist, owing to concerns pertaining to intellectual property rights.
According to the MoU, Huawei and the institute could visit each other’s facilities, including Huawei’s manufacturing plants and logistics centres. The centre was given funding in the 2010-11 budget.
