In a bid to address the security concerns being raised by the security agencies from time to time, the government is likely to make it mandatory for the telecom operators to meet the 80 percent of demands for certain equipments from the domestic markets by 2020.

It may be recalled that the Telecom Equipment Manufacturers' Association (TEMA) has been persistently demanding such an action from the government.

The certain products that an expert committee constituted by the department of telecommunications (DoT) has identified include SIM cards, routers, Network Management Systems (NMS), modems, base stations, and switching centres.

Trai’s proposal that telcos source 80% of their network equipment from domestic manufacturers by 2020 has already been given a nod by DoT.

According to sources the exercise is to be implements in a phased manner. The telcos would have procure 30% of these products by 2013 which will be increased to 80% by 2012.

The move is in line with encouraging domestic production by the government.