DoT to make local screening of imported gear mandatory
The telecom department (DoT) will shortly amend telecom licence conditions, making it legally binding for all mobile and landline operators to use imported telecom gear in their networks from next April only after it has been certified by a locally accredited test lab.
The new rule will apply to all access service providers, including telcos that have migrated to unified licences, according to an internal DoT note reviewed by ET.
The Narendra Modi-led government had recently extended the July 1, 2014, local testing deadline by nine months in the absence of a local lab geared to handle security certification of imported network products. DoT will shortly approach the law ministry to ring in an amendment in telecom operator licences for enforcing local screening compliance on security grounds from April 1, 2015. "A suitable amendment may be issued as security certification of telecom equipment only from authorised and certified agencieslabs within India has been extend ed to April 1, 2015," said DoT in its note.
DoT had originally mandated local screening of imported telecom network products from April 1, 2013, but the exercise has been delayed as the lab that is to serve as a clear ing house has not seen the light of day.
To ensure local screening starts from next April, DoT is trying to reach out to foreign agencies to invest in such labs in India.
It recently decided to allow 74% foreign ownership in such entities, with a rider that foreign holdings in such lab projects would need to be low ered to 49% in three years.1, The decision to involve global agencies was taken on grounds that they have better technical knowhow on design of telecom gear, testing tools, standards and security issues.
The telecom department (DoT) will shortly amend telecom licence conditions, making it legally binding for all mobile and landline operators to use imported telecom gear in their networks from next April only after it has been certified by a locally accredited test lab.
The new rule will apply to all access service providers, including telcos that have migrated to unified licences, according to an internal DoT note reviewed by ET.
The Narendra Modi-led government had recently extended the July 1, 2014, local testing deadline by nine months in the absence of a local lab geared to handle security certification of imported network products. DoT will shortly approach the law ministry to ring in an amendment in telecom operator licences for enforcing local screening compliance on security grounds from April 1, 2015. "A suitable amendment may be issued as security certification of telecom equipment only from authorised and certified agencieslabs within India has been extend ed to April 1, 2015," said DoT in its note.
DoT had originally mandated local screening of imported telecom network products from April 1, 2013, but the exercise has been delayed as the lab that is to serve as a clear ing house has not seen the light of day.
To ensure local screening starts from next April, DoT is trying to reach out to foreign agencies to invest in such labs in India.
It recently decided to allow 74% foreign ownership in such entities, with a rider that foreign holdings in such lab projects would need to be low ered to 49% in three years.1, The decision to involve global agencies was taken on grounds that they have better technical knowhow on design of telecom gear, testing tools, standards and security issues.
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