Centre ropes in BT to help on telecom security software

UK-based BT, formerly British Telecom, will be a consultant to Indian Institute of Science (IISc) in Bangalore to help develop a software for testing telecom equipment.

“BT has been appointed as a consultant by DoT (Department of Telecommunications) to give expert advice in developing a software for testing. It offers its services to governments globally. BT will closely work with IISc, Bangalore, on this project, and send their experts here in India,” a senior telecom ministry official told Business Standard.

Once the laboratory is set up by the National Informatics Centre (NIC), India will have the capacity to test equipment, instead of depending on global testing agencies.

The development comes at a time when Chinese telecom equipment providers, Huawei and ZTE, are facing security issues in launching their products in India following a home ministry directive.

The project, however, could take one or two years to complete. The software would check for spyware or malware that could be a possible threat, the official said.

“Having our own testing software and lab will ensure the country’s communication network is fully secured. Relying on global firms for testing telecom equipment used in India is not a good idea. This project will take time but it will definitely address the security issues,” said the official.

Although the government maintains there is no ban on Chinese telecom equipment, the controversy is a matter of concern. The contracts of Huawei and ZTE with a few Indian mobile service providers have been stuck for six months.

Many operators, including new ones, have come out strongly against the ban on Chinese equipment because of the latter’s low price, compared to other global vendors such as Ericsson, Nokia and Siemens. The ban could increase the cost for service providers.

DoT and the ministry of home affairs are working on new guidelines to address security issues. DoT has already asked state-run Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd not to award orders to Chinese firms.