Indian security agencies concerned about ZTE managing Airtel 4G network

A reference has been received from a security agency expressing that Bharti Airtel is using a technology developed by Chinese company ZTE for 4G services, Ministers of State for Communications and IT Milind Deora has said.

"A reference has been received from a Security agency expressing that Bharti Airtel, while rolling out the 4G services is using Time Division-Long Term Evolution (TD-LTE) technology, which has been developed by ZTE, a Chinese company," Deora told the Lok Sabha in a written reply.

"Therefore, role of ZTE in managing the 4G network and adequacy of training to local personnel of Bharti Airtel may be ascertained," he said.

Bharti Airtel started 4G telecom services in April from Kolkata and roped in Chinese telecom equipment maker ZTE to plan, design, supply and deploy its network in the city. The company has received clearance from security agencies to start the 4G services which restricted from it from providing some services.

Deora said information with regard to number of towns and cities in the country where 4G network is managed by ZTE company, is being collected from the Telecom Service Providers.

The minister elaborated on steps taken by government for security of telecom network.

He said that government has mandated that licensee (telecom service providers) shall induct only those network elements into his telecom network, which have been got tested as per relevant contemporary Indian or International Security Standards from any international agency or labs of those standards until March 31, 2013.

"From April 1, 2013 the certification shall be got done only from authorised and certified agencies or labs in India," Deora said.

He added that as per licence condition, the licensee shall employ only resident, trained Indian Nationals as Chief Technical Officer, Chief Information Security Officer, Nodal Executives for handling interception and monitoring cases.