Amid security concerns arising out of use of foreign telecom equipment, the ministry of home affairs has asked the department of telecommunications (DoT) about steps taken to strengthen the local manufacturing facilities.

“DoT may kindly recall that it had agreed to the view that long-term security lies in an increased production of critical components (hardware and software) in India. To this end, the DoT had agreed to formulate and put non-security measures such as incentive regimes in place.”

“It had also been agreed that DoT will ensure creation of adequate national test bed capabilities within the next two years. We shall be grateful if we are apprised of the steps taken in this regard,” MHA secretary R K Singh said in a letter to telecom secretary R Chandrasekhar.

Singh also asked the telecom ministry to ensure that the operators shall induct only those network elements into their telecom networks, which have been got tested as per relevant contemporary Indian or international security standards.

Further, the licensee shall keep a record of all the software updations and changes. The major updation and changes should also be informed to licensor (DoT) within 15 days of completion of such updation and charges, he said.

The DoT had issued guidelines on 31 May, this year by amending the license agreements asking operators to get their networks audited from security point of view once a year from a network audit and certification agency.

The licensee shall have an organisational policy on security managements of their networks and submit the policy to licensor within 30 working days from the date of this amendment, the letter said.

The operators shall provide location details of mobile customers in the license service areas as per time frame specified and to ensure that security concerns are adequately addressed, Singh said, adding that “DoT is requested to kindly obtain compliance report from the licensees” on the above action points.