India Mulls Replacing Legacy Chinese Telecom Equipment, Seeks Cost Estimates From Telcos

The Indian government is exploring the possibility of a "rip and replace" program to replace older Chinese telecom equipment in the country's cellular networks, seeking cost estimates from telecommunication companies. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) is examining the proposal, while the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) is gathering information from telecom operators regarding their use of equipment from Chinese manufacturers like Huawei and ZTE.

The initiative aims to determine the extent of legacy Chinese technology in telecom networks and the potential costs involved in replacing it. The government's evaluation is focused on equipment installed before the introduction of the trusted sources regime in 2021, when equipment from approved or trusted sources was required. Equipment deployed prior to the rules' implementation was allowed to remain operational.

The government is assessing the capital expenditure required for replacement and considering potential compensation for telecom companies if a mandate for removal is ultimately imposed. The review is still at an evaluation stage, with no final decision on implementing a nationwide replacement program. The decision will be made by the Home Ministry, with the DoT providing information and support for the assessment.