Guidelines on telecom equipment soon

Amid reports that use of Chinese equipment by telecom service providers poses a risk to national security, the government has decided to issue guidelines within a month. Manoj Gairola reports.

Amid reports that use of Chinese equipment by telecom service providers poses a risk to national security, the government has decided to issue guidelines within a month.

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The decision was taken at a meeting between the officials of the department of telecommunications (DoT) and Intelligence Bureau (IB) on Friday.

The agency also expressed concern over allowing private operators to set up remote access facilities in China. The facility is used by service providers to manage networks.

IB, in a letter to DoT, said it was concerned about growing Chinese interest in telecom sector. It cited a proposal sent out by Reliance Telecommunications Ltd and Reliance Communications Ltd, seeking remote access permission for over 300 locations in India and 56 abroad.