India, US to discuss Huawei’s role in 5G trials

NEW DELHI: India will convey to US secretary of state Mike Pompeo that the government will balance the national security implications of Chinese company Huawei with the demands of the local telecommunication market before deciding on 5G trials.

Pompeo, who is the highest ranking American official to visit India since the re-election of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is likely to discuss Huawei’s participation in India’s 5G trials with the government here on Wednesday.

The US has been pressurising India to ban the Chinese company from its 5G development and deployment on the back of security concerns of Chinese surveillance on these networks.


The US had banned Huawei’s products on May 21 and also barred US companies from supplying software and components to the Chinese company. Meanwhile, Australia and New Zealand have also banned Huawei from participating in their 5G trials.

But last week, the Chinese foreign ministry weighed in on the debate, calling for India to take an “unbiased and nondiscriminatory” decision.

Huawei also offered to sign a “no backdoor” agreement with India to allay concerns that it might use its telecom gear for surveillance. The move came before Pompeo’s visit to India.

Huawei India CEO Jay Chen cautioned India against making a wrong decision “under pressure” and said it should stick to its open and collaborative approach while dealing with the world.

“The next 10 years could be golden years of growth for India. India should take the best of the world to achieve the target it has set for itself such as the target of making the country a $1-trillion digital economy by 2025,” Chen told news agency IANS on Monday.