Core Viewpoint - The Indian government is emphasizing the urgency of achieving self-sufficiency in the telecommunications sector amid deteriorating relations with the U.S. [1][5] Group 1: Government Policy - The Indian Ministry of Telecommunications (DoT) has requested major private operators Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel, and Vodafone Idea to submit a roadmap for increasing the use of domestically manufactured equipment [1] - If the operators do not comply voluntarily, the government may issue mandatory directives to enforce compliance within a specified timeframe [1] - The policy aims to impact foreign telecom equipment manufacturers such as Cisco, Nokia, Ericsson, and Samsung [1] Group 2: Industry Response - The three major operators have tentatively agreed to the DoT's request but have stipulated that domestic products must be competitively priced and of comparable quality to foreign products [1][2] - Currently, the use of domestic products by these operators is very limited, primarily due to insufficient production capacity from local manufacturers [6] - Vodafone Idea and Bharti Airtel have been sourcing equipment from Indian companies like Sterlite Technologies and HFCL, but face challenges due to low production volumes [6] Group 3: Geopolitical Context - The new policy comes at a time of heightened geopolitical risks, particularly following the U.S. imposing a 25% tariff on Indian goods, raising the total tariff rate on Indian exports to the U.S. to 50% [5] - There is a growing sentiment in India against U.S. products, with calls for a boycott gaining traction among the public [5] Group 4: Historical Context - This is not the first time the Indian government has pushed for "Make in India" initiatives in the telecom sector, having previously mandated state-owned BSNL to use only domestic equipment, which has led to ongoing difficulties for the company [6] - Experts warn that if private operators are held to the same standards as state-owned BSNL, the entire telecom industry could face significant challenges [6]
印度想让三大运营商用“国产设备”,但尴尬的是......
Guan Cha Zhe Wang·2025-08-13 07:13