India to name 'trusted telecom sources', may blacklist Chinese vendors

The committee will declare a list of trusted sources and products for telecom service providers

India will list "trusted and not trusted sources" of telecom vendors and devices based on national security, announcing a committee for the purpose as its border tension with China continues.

"There may even be a second list of designated sources from whom no procurement can be done," said union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad at a press conference in Delhi. 

India has banned over 200 Chinese mobile apps and restricted certain investments from that country but earlier in December included Chinese telecom equipment company Huawei in working groups for the rollout of 5G networks in the country. The UK has banned its telecoms providers from installing Huawei equipment in the country over national security concerns.

"The cabinet committee on security gives approval for National Security Directive on Telecommunication Sector. Under this, in order to maintain integrity of supply chain security, government will declare a list of trusted sources/products for benefit of telecom service providers," he said without commenting if the decision could lead to a ban on Chinese vendors. The committee will be headed by India's deputy National Security Advisor and comprise "all stakeholders".

The cabinet also approved the next round of spectrum auction in March. The department of telecommunications (DoT) plans to sell 2,251 megahertz (MHz) of spectrum. It will sell spectrum in the 700MHz, 800MHz, 900MHz, 1,800MHz, 2,100MHz, 2,300MHz, 2,500MHz bands.

"The conditions of the next spectrum auction will remain the same as the 2016 auction," Prasad said. A notice inviting applications for sale of airwaves will be issued in December.