Bharti reiterates its faith in Huawei

Bharti Airtel has placed an order for Rs 300 crore for telecom infrastructure expansion equipment on Huawei. This is in line with its chairman’s belief in Huawei’s technology.

This is in the backdrop of the government’s recent announcement, on February 24, 2021, that it is deliberating easing restrictions for Chinese FDI by allowing companies from the bordering country to invest up to 25 per cent in a company through automatic route, in non-sensitive sectors as manufacturing and technology.

It may be recalled that Sunil Mittal, chairman, Bharti Enterprises had in October 2019, at the World Economic Forum responded to US secretary of commerce, Wilbur Ross’ remarks that there were genuine security concerns regarding Huawei’s gear. Mittal had said that their company had found Huawei’s technology superior and price competitive. He had remarked, “Huawei, over the last 10 or 12 years, has become extremely good with their products. The company has left us surprised with the manner in which it scaled the technology curve to ensure efficient use of spectrum with minimal power consumption.

India should leverage its population and geographical proximity to China to extract the best deal for its trade with Beijing. India will have to decide for itself its relationship with China on a larger context. India and China are big trade partners, they are neighbours, they have a huge population to serve. And, all I would say is that, India will take this advice carefully, but the decision will have to be taken politically.”
CT Bureau