New Delhi, Dec 18 (Agency) Telecom Equipment and Services Export Promotion Council has termed the establishment of 5G networks as a great opportunity for the homegrown telecom manufacturers. “This is a great opportunity for India telecom equipment manufacturers to not only meet the domestic requirements but also be part of the global value chain……This great opportunity will give us considerable philip to domestic telecom equipment manufacturers”, Director General of the council Arun Gupta said.
Mr Gupta’s comments came after the Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved a proposal of the Department of Telecommunications to conduct the next round of spectrum auction for commercial mobile services. Though he welcomed the step taken by the government to ensure security of telecom equipment and network, yet, expressed apprehensions over the risk of data security that would exponentially rise following the commercial deployments of the fifth generation (5G) networks. “Everytime new technology makes its presence, they give rise to new security challenges. Establishment of 5G network will generate humongous data and consequently the risk of data security breach will also increase exponentially”, the Director General said. However, he maintained that it would be now necessary to source telecom equipment from reliable, secured and full proof telecom equipment manufacturers and minimization of security vulnerability should be ensured. The DG averred that India’s Atmanirbhar (self reliance) initiative would facilitate homegrown companies to produce and supply fool-proof telecom equipment.
“Make in India policy would also enable the domestic equipment makers to supply fool-proof and secured telecom equipment”, he said. On Wednesday, Minister of Communications Ravi Shankar Prasad while addressing the media persons said that it is relevant that the telecom sector today is a key infrastructure provider with strong linkages with economic growth, direct and indirect employment generation and expansion of Digital India.