India may blacklist some telecom equipment vendors for security reasons

The Cabinet on Wednesday approved the setting up of a national security directive on telecommunication sector, which will have a significant impact on India’s security, IT and telecommunications minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said announcing the new guidelines for telecom service providers.

“Considering the need to ensure India’s national security, the Cabinet has accorded approval for the national security directive on telecommunication sector. Under this, in order to maintain the integrity of the supply chain security, government will declare a list of trusted sources, trusted products for the benefit of telecom service providers,” the minister said adding that similarly there will be a list of designated sources from whom no procurement will be done.

The move will also be a push to “self-reliant India” as telecom gears made by domestic players might be considered in the category of trusted sources.