Embattled Huawei hopes India will let it participate in 5G trials

Huawei is hopeful that the Indian government will take an “independent decision” on the Chinese networking equipment maker’s participation in upcoming trials for 5G mobile networks.

“I think it is the right time for the Department of Telecommunications to make a decision after almost 6-8 months of very close engagement,” said Huawei’s India chief executive officer Jay Chen. “I believe the decision will be based on the level playing field policy, standard procedures and security measures.” 

Chen was speaking at an event organised by industry body Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI).

Engagement with India on 5G trials has assumed additional significance for Huawei after the company was blacklisted by the US in connection with security-related concerns. 

According to global reports, the company is in discussions to sell off its undersea cable operations and its smartphone production business is likely to be affected after Google halted business with Huawei’s phones running on its Android operating system.

Telecom minister Ravi Shankar Prasad had announced earlier this week that the DoT would conduct 5G trials within 100 days and that the auction of 5G spectrum would be held later in the year.

Speaking at a discussion during the COAI event, Anshu Prakash, additional secretary at the DoT, said that the details of quantum, pricing and price revision of spectrum auction for 5G will be decided by the government over a period of time.