In an attempt to placate security concerns over its equipment in India, Huawei has pledged to keep its 5G network equipment in line with strict security standards.
The Chinese vendor has also promised the specific assurance that no equipment sold in the country will feature backdoors, reports Reuters. Huawei has been dogged by assertions from the US that its equipment could be used by the Chinese government for espionage purposes – which the vendor denies - so this particular pledge will aim to assuage any concerns from other countries.
Jay Chen, CEO of Huawei’s Indian unit, said that in addition to signing the backdoor pledge, the company would allow its infrastructure source code to be reviewed by Indian authorities. He also noted that the vendor could increase production of its equipment in the market.
Huawei’s overtures to India are likely a reaction to remarks made earlier this month by US commerce secretary Wilbur Ross at the India Economic Summit in Delhi. Ross asserted that the US was not acting out of “protectionism” and had serious concerns about India (and other allies) exposing themselves to “untoward security risk”.
