India Tightens Restrictions on Chinese Telecom Firms

India is maintaining tight restrictions on Chinese telecom firms, particularly Huawei and ZTE, due to ongoing security concerns and geopolitical tensions. The Indian government, under its National Security Directive, continues to block these companies from participating in the country’s telecom infrastructure, including 5G rollout. This directive ensures that only “trusted sources” can supply equipment for telecom networks, effectively shutting out Chinese firms. 

Despite proposals by ZTE to partner with Indian companies to manufacture consumer Wi-Fi equipment, such as routers, these products can only be used in telecom networks with special government approval. The Department of Telecommunications has further instructed operators to evaluate and limit the use of any non-trusted equipment already in their systems.

These restrictions are part of India’s broader strategy to reduce reliance on Chinese technology, especially following border conflicts and rising cybersecurity concerns. The government aims to foster partnerships with Western democracies for telecom and technology development, signaling a shift toward more secure and diversified technological collaborations.