This week the Department of Telecom (DoT) approved Airtel, Jio, Vi, and MTNL, to conduct 5G trials in the country. It also approved original equipment manufacturers and technology providers — Ericsson, Nokia, Samsung and Development of Telematics (C-DoT) to supply equipments for 5G trials, but it didn’t allow Chinese vendors HUAWEI and ZTE.
After queries from media, Spokesperson of Chinese Embassy Counsellor Wang Xiaojian expressed concern and regret that Chinese telecommunications companies have not been permitted to conduct 5G trials with Indian Telecom Service Providers (TSPs) in India.
He added that the relevant Chinese companies have been operating in India for years, providing mass job opportunities and making contribution to India’s infrastructure construction in telecommunications.
“To exclude Chinese telecommunications companies from the trials will not only harm their legitimate rights and interests, but also hinder the improvement of the Indian business environment, which is not conducive to the innovation and development of related Indian industries,” he said.
The Chinese side hopes that India could do more to enhance mutual trust and cooperation between the two countries, and provide an open, fair, just, and non-discriminatory investment and business environment for market entities from all countries, including China, to operate and invest in India.
Back in 2019, Airtel and Vodafone Idea had signed a deal with HUAWEI and ZTE for 5G deployment in select circles, but after the border tensions last year, both the companies chose European vendors. The Indian government in recent months have blocked several Chinese apps including TikTok.