Huawei, ZTE Receive Credentials for Trusted Telecom Products Portal

Sources report that Huawei and ZTE have received login credentials to the trusted telecom products portal.

Huawei, ZTE Receive Credentials to Trusted Telecom Portal

After not sharing the login credentials with the Chinese telecom vendors, the government has done a 180 and given them access. This will allow the Chinese companies to submit details about their products and put them in consideration. This will also allow them to sell equipment to Indian telcos in case someone shows an interest.

However, for that, they will have to receive the nod from the NCSC.

The government has changed its stance towards Huawei and ZTE because earlier there were fears of hacking in the portal. Now, the government believes that the portal is "very secure" and chances of any hacking are “negligible”. Interestingly, a Financial Express report had said telcos refused to fill details on the behalf of Chinese companies.

The government has made it clear that it will not show any leniency towards either Huawei or ZTE. Moreover, it has said that that it will be extra cautious. In case a telco indicated interest in buying from Chinese vendors, it will follow all due process.

The news follows as last month Huawei had appointed a Nodal officer to negotiate with the government. The telecom vendor had done so to receive access to the said portal.

The Trusted Telecom Portal

Launched on 15th June, the trusted portal was launched to provide clearance to trusted products that telcos can install in their networks as part of the National Security Directive on the telecom sector. Under the said directive, telcos have to specify all equipment they want to use in their networks. The telcos also had to fill in the details of the vendors from whom they wish to procure the said products.

After this, the government would contact the concerned vendors to submit the details of the products on the portal. The vendors then had to access the portal and submit the details of the products in question. Once the vendors submit the required details, the National Cyber Security Council will decide if the product is 'trusted' or not.

The government had said that the telcos can seek a waiver from the government if they choose to install products from Chinese companies. However, sources report that if a product fails to meet the 'trusted' requirements, no waiver will apply on them.