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