Huawei: Keeping us out of India's 5G will be a loss to users, industry

Huawei has asserted keeping itself out of the 5G play in India will be a "loss" to telecom operators, end consumers and vertical industries that could be potential beneficiaries of the 5G technology. Huawei is among the world's largest telecom gear maker that has lately been facing a ban from the US on the grounds of national security concerns. India is yet to decide whether to allow Huawei to participate in India's 5G trials.

Meanwhile, the central government has already made it clear it will keep national interest in mind while deciding on the Huawei's participation in 5G trials.

Huawei 'threatens' to pause investment in India if denied 5G clearance

'Loss to Indian operators, consumers'

Huawei India CEO Jay Chen recently said the company does not wish to get caught in geopolitical crossfire, and that it remains fully committed to complying with the laws of the land, riding on the strength of its technology. The comments assume significance as the US has blacklisted Huawei and is now persuading its allies to block Huawei from their new mobile networks.

Chen said it is now an "accepted fact that Huawei's technology is much ahead of the industry", and that the company is a "frontrunner in 5G". 

"So keeping us out will be loss to Indian operators, vertical industries as well as the end consumer. We are confident of the Indian government taking an independent and unbiased decision that provides level-playing-field for all players of the country, one that is guided by policy, standards and procedure and not based on the country of origin or speculative allegations lacking evidence," Chen said.

Recently, the Telecom Department granted Huawei permission to proceed with 5G 'use cases' demos at the on-going India Mobile Congress (IMC) in New Delhi. In response to the DoT's nod for Huawei to demo its 5G use case scenarios at IMC, the company had said it sends a "positive message" and will bolster industry's confidence to work with the company. 

Huawei has exuded confidence that it will be given permission to participate in 5G trials in India.

Amid a US push for a global ban on Huawei over "security issues" ahead of 5G adoption, Indian telecom tycoon Sunil Bharti Mittal earlier this month threw his weight behind the Chinese firm, saying its products are "leading edge" and "superior" to rivals, and asserted that the firm "should be in play" in India.

Mittal's strong endorsement for the telecom equipment manufacturer came even as US Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross, speaking at a World Economic Forum event in New Delhi, had said the Trump administration's opposition to the Chinese company was not about protectionism but "genuine security risks" that go beyond the front-end equipment, percolating to even areas such as upgrades and maintenance.

Huawei had recently offered to exclusively license its 5G technology to a US player to ensure a level playing field for rivals. 

Asked if Huawei is open to a similar arrangement for India (a point that Mittal too had alluded to), Chen said, "For India, there have been no discussions with any company on this subject. So we cannot really comment on a future speculation."

(With PTI inputs)