Narendra Modi wants telecom chiefs to be Indians

This is among the new security guidelines being framed by the Union home ministry for granting of security clearances to private players keen to invest in India and do business in the country.

This revision of existing guidelines comes in the backdrop of “national security” concerns like the recent Sun TV issue and persisting concerns of security agencies on the presence of Chinese nationals heading networks in India.

While there is no direct mention of China, the ministry is making it clear that foreign companies investing in India will have to appoint Indians in key technical posts like chief technical officer and chief security officer. The home ministry has made it clear that it will not allow any investment from Pakistan and any foreign executive who has worked in that country will have to undergo special security vetting before taking any assignment in India.

“All network systems like telecom, desktop operating systems and Internet routing and others that connect communication systems in the country should be headed by Indian nationals. We cannot have a situation where our networks are run by foreign nationals,” a top official said.

In a related move, the home ministry has also written to the department of telecommunications to put in place efficient testing facilities for telecom equipment installed in India within one year, which can detect any embedded malware or bugs given the fact that more than 50 per cent of such telecom equipment is of Chinese origin. The testing will be done at the initial stage of the investment as well as periodically after the foreign company sets up base in the country. The same rules will apply for private security agencies in the country.