NSCS: Nokia, Ericsson, Tejas, Cisco get trusted sources nod

European telecommunications providers Ericsson and Nokia, as well as Cisco and Tejas, based in the United States, are among the first group of telecommunications equipment suppliers to receive approval from reliable sources from the National Cyber Security Coordinator (NCSC), just like the Chinese Huawei and ZTE. have not yet completed the documentation process to be eligible for approval.

Tejas Networks, which was recently acquired by Panatone Finvest from Tata Sons, is the only national supplier of telecommunications equipment to receive approval.

France-based industrial IoT solution provider Proscend, identity-related security service provider IDEMIA, PC Solutions and Dori Software have also received approval from trusted sources from the designated authority, the NSCS.

However, the country’s telecom operators still cannot place purchase orders with these vendors, as “trusted product” approval for telecom equipment has yet to be given by the NCSC.

“This is a first step in the process, but right now it doesn’t mean much, as companies with approval from trusted sources can still get their equipment rejected if the authority isn’t. not satisfied,” said someone familiar with the process. “The first list of trusted products is expected between the end of November and mid-December. ”

National Cybersecurity Coordinator Lt. Gen. (ret’d) Rajesh Pant confirmed the development and said the National Security Telecommunications Committee meets monthly and decides on the allocation of sources and products. reliable.

“The details of these are communicated to the telecommunications operators who had submitted their requirements on the portal. This process began with effect from October 21 and the system is functioning as desired by the Cabinet decision, ”he added.

Another source said that Chinese equipment supplier Huawei is in the process of fulfilling its obligations as part of the process to gain approval from trusted sources. “Huawei still has not completed the documentation process,” he added.

ZTE, meanwhile, is awaiting approval from the authority.

Queries sent to Ericsson, Nokia, Tejas, Cisco, Huawei and ZTE did not elicit a response.

Both Huawei and ZTE are seeking approval under the IRE or Indian Registered Entity category. However, multinational companies with local manufacture directly or through EMS partners will be considered for approval under the Indian Registered or IR category similar to domestic suppliers.

Ericsson and Nokia both have local production facilities in the country. While Nokia manufactures its own equipment through the Chennai plant, Ericsson has its equipment manufactured in Pune through Jabil.

Pant previously said that Huawei and ZTE weren’t barred from participating in the process of identifying trusted sources and products for deployments, but that they will have to go through the review process like any other,

A senior executive working with a European supplier said there is a chance that if a product or component is made in China, the approval may not be given and this may also apply to non-Chinese suppliers. “There is still no clarity on the origin of the component. Much of the global supply chain is in China and you can’t just move that to India overnight. So we wait and watch, ”he added.

Indian telecoms operators had previously raised concerns about delays in network deployment due to the process. However, the designated authority offered them the option of taking an exemption for immediate deployment needs. Vodafone Idea, Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel recently obtained a one-time exemption from the NCSC for critical deployments in the country. Olt News