Question : AGREEMENT BETWEEN IISC AND HUAWEI

(a) whether any agreement has been signed between Indian Institute of Science (IISc) and Chinese telecom equipment and solutions provider Huawei;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether there are any security implications in the agreement;

(d) if so, the details thereof and the reaction of the security agencies thereon;

(e) whether the Government has taken a decision to conduct testing and certification of software and hardware of all foreign telecom companies; and

(f) if so, the details thereof and the reactions of the concerned foreign companies in this regard?

MINISTER OF THE STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI MILIND DEORA)

(a) to (f) Yes Madam, to take care of national security concerns related to telecom network, Government has recently issued the amendment to various telecom licenses on 31.05.2011, wherein it is mandated that all network elements should be tested and certified as ‘safe to connect’ before inducting these into network. For carrying out these tests, it is essential to know the details of the equipment, which are to be tested and develop the tests for security testing of these equipments.

IISc, Bangaluru, has been assigned the task of developing the tests on telecom equipment. The tests cannot be developed without knowing the technical details. Accordingly, IISc has sought technical details from the various telecom equipment suppliers, including Huawei. As part of these steps, IISc has entered into nondisclosure agreement with Huawei. As part of these technical details since these are commercially sensitive information.

The steps of amending the license dated 31.05.2011 and the agreement of IISc with Huawei have been taken to improve the security environment.