By IANS,
New Delhi : State-run telecom operator Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) is free to import telecom equipment from foreign vendors, including Chinese companies, Minister of State for Communications Sachin Pilot said in the Rajya Sabha Thursday.
He said new guidelines had been issued for procuring telecom equipment from foreign vendors in consultation with the Ministry of Home Affairs to address security concerns. “Accordingly, now BSNL may enter into agreement with foreign vendors for purchase of equipments/ software/ services,” Pilot said in a written reply.
Over the last few months, a controversy had arisen after security agencies raised concerns over equipment supplied by Chinese vendors, saying that snooping technology may be embedded in what was supplied.
Pilot said participation of foreign companies in strategic sector has a bearing on national security. BSNL being a public sector undertaking, its network has to be relied upon in emergency. That’s why in the interest of national security, the government had directed BSNL in May, 2009 that resources should not be procured from the Chinese vendors for deployment in the sensitive regions (especially border states).
Earlier, the employees associations of BSNL had alleged that the telecom ministry had allowed private players to install Chinese equipment but restricted BSNL from doing so.
In a letter to the cabinet secretary, BSNL had blamed the telecom ministry of imposing severe restrictions including restriction on import of equipment thus jeopardising the growth of the company.