National Security Directive on Telecommunication Sector

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Union government announced the National Security Directive on Telecommunication Sector for secure networks

Important provisions

• In order to strengthen security of communications network, the Cabinet Committee on Security recently announced the National Security Directive on Telecommunication Sector, which will mandate service providers to purchase equipment from trusted sources
• List of trusted sources & trusted products: Under this directive, the government will declare a list of trusted sources and trusted products for installation in the country’s telecom network.
  • The methodology to designate trusted products will be devised by the designated authority, the National Cyber Security Coordinator. 
  • And the telecom service providers are required to connect new devices that are designated trusted products
• Accordingly, the list of the trusted source and product will be decided based on approval of a committee headed by the deputy national security advisor. The committee will be called the national security committee on telecom
• National security committee on telecom: The committee will consist of members from relevant departments, ministries and will also have two members from the industry and independent experts. 
• Negative list: The government will also create a list of designated sources from whom no procurement can be done.
• The present directive does not envisage mandatory replacement of the existing equipment already inducted in the network of TSPs
• The directive will also not affect annual maintenance contracts or updates to existing equipment already inducted in the network as on date of effect of the directive.
• The directive has provisions to qualify telecom gears made by domestic players in the trusted category.
• Those that meet the criteria of the Department of Telecommunications’ preferential market access (PMA) scheme will be certified as India trusted sources. 
• The National Security Committee on Telecom will take measures to increase use of equipment from such Indian trusted sources
• The DoT will suitably notify guidelines and ensure monitoring of compliance by telecom service providers of the directive.
• The Department of Telecom will make appropriate modifications in the licence conditions for the implementation of the provisions of the directive. 
• The policy will come in to operation after 180 days from the date of approval