Huawei’s inclusion in 5G working groups raises security concerns
Experts cite two Chinese laws that force Chinese telecom companies operating in foreign countries to share any information that Chinese agencies want from them. These two laws override every contract that a Chinese company signs with India.
Amid increasing pressure from domestic industry lobbying groups, Government of India has allowed Chinese telecom giant Huawei to become a part of the working groups for 5G rollout in the country. The Department of Telecom (DOT) has made Huawei a part of the working groups that will conduct a study on the impact of 5G on finance, technology and healthcare. There is speculation that even ZTE is likely to be allowed to be part of the process.
This decision has come even as Indian soldiers are engaged in an eyeball-toeyeball confrontation with the Chinese PLA after the latter tried to annex Indian territory along the Line of Actual Control. The border stand-off, which is now in its seventh month, has led to the loss of the lives of 20 Indian soldiers who were martyred fewer than 250 days ago on 15 June during a violent clash at Galwan valley in Ladakh. The Government of India, in retaliation and to hit China financially, has so far banned 200 Chinese mobile applications.
Earlier, the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI), in a letter sent to DOT Secretary Anshu Prakash on 2 December, had urged the government to remove equipment and vendor-based application restrictions in order to carry out smoother 5G trials in the country. This, according to industry sources, was an indication that the COAI was pushing for Chinese vendors such as Huawei and ZTE to be a part of the rollout of 5G technology in India.
The COAI is an influential body that has members who represent mobile service providers, telecom equipment and internet services providers. Among its associate members are Huawei and ZTE. Emails sent to COAI seeking their view on the concerns being raised against Huawei and ZTE elicited no response until the time the story went to press.
Experts cite two Chinese