Rajeev Chandrasekhar's official website - Member of Parliament

 

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

Ministry of Communication and IT

DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

 

RAJYA SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2130

TO BE ANSWERED ON 23RD JULY, 2009

 

Telecom Network Expansion Contract.

2130.

SHRI RAJEEV CHANDRASEKHAR

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY be pleased to state:-

(a)        whether Government has cautioned the BSNL on the security related aspects of awarding telecom network expansion contracts to China based Huawei;

(b)        whether the Government has insisted on testing the equipment made by Huawei for trap doors, black boxes and malwares;

(c)        whether Government is also insisting on tests for susceptibility of Huawei equipments to remote hacking; and

(d)        if so; where the matter stands at present and by when a decision is likely to be taken thereon?

ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS AND

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

(SHRI GURUDAS KAMAT)

(a) to (d)          Sir, the tenders for procurement of 93 million lines for GSM equipment was floated by the four zones of BSNL on 01.05.2008.  The tenders were further divided into four parts as detailed below:

(i)      Part I for 2G elements, Core and VAS elements

(ii)     Part II for 3G elements

(iii)    Part III for infrastructure items

(iv)    Part IV for operation and billing sub-systems

Ministry of Home Affairs / Intelligence Bureau have raised concern over the presence of foreign companies, especially from certain countries in the critical and sensitive border areas, that may have national security implications.  Accordingly, a security guideline was issued to BSNL.  As per the security guidelines :-

  • Before operationalisation of all the new systems, irrespective of origin of manufacturing, extensive security audit should be carried out to the effect that networks and its elements are free from any trapdoors / black boxes/malwares and susceptible to remote hacking.  A self-certificate to that effect shall be submitted to TERM Cell of DoT for carrying out the security out the security audit and issuance of certificate.

 The bids are still under evaluation and no award of contract has been done.

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