The Indian firms are the consortium of TCS-Tejas-CDoT, Shyam Vihaan Network, Niral Networks, Lekha Wireless, Signaltron, Resonous, Amantya Technologies, WiSig Wireless, and Galore Networks
Indian telecom equipment manufacturers are expecting to have the possibility of teaming up with U.S. firms for the deployment of 4G and 5G projects, Indian newspaper The Economic Times reported.
The Indian government aims to seek potential opportunities for local telecom gear makers during the upcoming visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the U.S.
The report noted that the move comes months after the U.S. authorities stopped the sale of telecom gear from large Chinese vendors due to security concerns.
According to the report, the consortium of TCS-Tejas-CDoT, Shyam Vihaan Network, Niral Networks, Lekha Wireless, Signaltron, Resonous, Amantya Technologies, WiSig Wireless, and Galore Networks are the companies that would seek business opportunities in the U.S. market, seeking potential projects such as 4G upgrades and 5G pilot projects.
“The government wants to position the Indian companies for 4G and 5G telecom work in the U.S., especially promoting them as ‘trusted sources’, amid moves across the world to find new suppliers, instead of just relying on Chinese vendors, such as Huawei and ZTE, for mobile telephony business,” the newspaper quoted an industry source as saying.
Earlier this year, India’s communications minister, Ashwini Vaishnaw, said that at least nine countries have showed interest in a locally developed 4G and 5G technology stack, making India a potential telecom technology exporter.
The minister noted that the locally developed stack is now ready and will soon be deployed. Vaishnaw also said that the stack was initially tested for conducting 1 million simultaneous calls, followed with a test for 5 million simultaneous calls, and that the stack has been tested for 10 million simultaneous calls recently.
Indian state-owned operator Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) has recently ordered $1.83 billion worth of infrastructure equipment and software from compatriot IT company Tata Consultancy Services (TCS).
The provision of this telecom gear will pave the way for BSNL to be in a position to fully launch its 4G network across India. Earlier this year, a group of ministers approved the proof-of-concept by the TCS consortium for BSNL using an indigenous technology stack, and gave the company the approval to issue the purchase order.
According to previous reports, the Indian government had said that only Indian telecoms vendors will be allowed to supply equipment for state-run telcos BSNL’s 4G and 5G projects, as part of the country’s efforts to reduce dependence on international providers.