BWI: TEMA India Raises Concern about the US Assistant Trade Representative’s letter to DoT

Press release from Business Wire India
Source: Telecom Equipment Manufacturers' Association of India (TEMA)
Friday, March 09, 2012 03:30 PM IST (10:00 AM GMT)
Editors: General: Consumer interest; Business: Business services, Information technology, Telecommunications; Technology
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TEMA India Raises Concern about the US Assistant Trade Representative's letter to DoT
Telecom Equipment Manufacturers Association (TEMA) opinion that the Contents of the letter not in National Interest

New Delhi, Delhi, India, Friday, March 09, 2012 -- (Business Wire India) -- The Telecom Equipment Manufacturers Association (TEMA) of India, in a communication to the Secretary, Department of Telecommunications (DoT), Government of India, have expressed their dismay over the recent media reports about the letter from the US Assistant Trade Representative suggesting India should take a soft stand on national security issues as far as the Indian telecommunication industry is concerned.

The letter from the US Assistant Trade Representative (South & Central Asia), Mr. Michael J Delaney to DoT's DDG (Security) questions the upcoming security framework in the telecom industry wherein the Government of India has indicated that 50 per cent of all 'core telecom network equipment ' will have to be indigenously developed or manufactured.

Mr. Delaney has also questioned some of the provisions contained in the draft National Security Policy like:

a. The Indian telecom service provider to induct hardware and software only from "trusted sources" with Indian certification ;

b. Mandatory requirement by the telecom network operators to install telecom equipment only after obtaining the certification in India.

"Going by the media reports, the contents of the letter from US, ATR are not in our nation's interest. Mr. Delaney has impressed upon Government of India to ignore / dilute such provisions. This stand not only challenges the Indian policy, but also increases the national security threat," said Mr. Ashok K Aggarwal Honorary Director-General, Telecommunication Equipment Manufacturers Association of India. Mr. Aggarwal also said that the U.S Government has stringent checks and balances in their country to thwart all possibilities of security threat for their critical infrastructure like Telecom, which is clearly evident from the recent investigations ordered by the US House Intelligence Committee in this regard. This letter from US ATR clearly demonstrates the double standards being adopted by the US.

TEMA in its communication stressed upon the Government of India that the concerns raised by Mr. Delaney should be ignored and not taken cognizance of in the nation's security interest in the final National Security Policy 2011.

About TEMA

Established in 1990, Telecom Equipment Manufacturers' Association of India (TEMA) is recognized by the Government of India as the National Apex body to represent telecom Technology Provider, Global and Indian, Private and Government owned Companies.

TEMA plays the critical role of advising the Government and influencing decisions relating to Indian telecom industry. TEMA also enjoys the privilege of the Government of Indian and major national industry associations for valuable contributions at every stage of the evolving telecom manufacturing sector in the Country. TEMA has membership of more than 150 members.


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KEYWORDS
CONSUMER, BUSINESS SERVICES, IT, TELECOMMUNICATIONS, TECHNOLOGY

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