Trusted Source Norms for Telecom Gear Under Scrutiny

Local firms flag lack of post-deployment checks after the one-time certification requirement

- Jatin Grover

The government is reviewing potential gaps in its trusted source certification framework for telecom equipment after local gear makers raised concerns over the absence of a process to test or verify equipment that enters the country post-certification, people familiar with the matter said.

At a meeting with the National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS) officials on Tuesday, domestic telecom gear manufacturers pointed out that the current regime offers only one-time certification and a limited sampling of equipment to be procured, with no ongoing or dynamic audit mechanism to verify and ensure that certified equipment remain secure once deployed, the people cited earlier said on the condition of anonymity. The meeting was attended by representatives from the telecom operators, the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI), and officials from the department of telecommunications (DoT), among other stakeholders.