Sunil Mittal backs Huawei amid US caution on security
NEW DELHI: Telecom tycoon Sunil Bharti Mittal on Thursday came out in strong defence of Huawei arguing that its products were “leading edge” and “superior” to rivals and advocated that the firm should be in the play even as the US government has flagged “genuine security issues” around the Chinese telecom gear maker.
The US asserted that its opposition to the Chinese company was not about protectionism, but “genuine security risks” that go beyond the front end equipment, percolating to even areas like upgrades and maintenance.
Speaking at the India Economic Summit in New Delhi, Mittal, the founder and chairman of Bharti Enterprises, however, backed Huawei’s technology prowess to the hilt, saying the company over the last 10 or 12 years has become “extremely good” with its products.
“...to a point where I can safely say their products in 3G and 4G that we have experienced, are significantly superior to Ericsson and Nokia. I use all three of them,” Mittal said.
Stating that he had been surprised by the Huawei’s technological edge, Mittal noted that the Chinese company had been able to take its products to a level where it was leading edge.
“... the power consumption is a fraction of Europeans, the footprint is small if you have to put it on a tower, and they have powerful leading features...They are clearly leading edge. Now whether they compromised some American IPs I don’t know,” the Indian telecom czar said.
The US has barred its companies from working with Huawei due to concerns over security and intellectual property.
India is yet to take a call on whether it intends to place curbs on Huawei or allow the firm to participate in 5G trials.
India will take US’ advisory carefully, Mittal said but added in the same breath that New Delhi will have to decide on its relationship with China.
Asked specifically about his views on Huawei and which way India should lean, Mittal said, “my view is that they should be in play. I really feel they should be in play. India must use this as leverage”
“Unlike opening it to many other western companies, our country and then having very little leverage I would rather have this leverage today because it is an important part,” Mittal said adding that the benefit of India’s pushback has been that Huawei has now opened up its technology, offering it to American firms, and may even do so for interested Indian companies.
US secretary of commerce Wilbur Ross said that America’s concern is based on its desire and hope “that our geopolitical partner India doesn’t inadvertently subject itself to untoward security risk”.