New Delhi: The Indian unit of Chinese tech giant Huawei is confident that it will be allowed to take part in the 5G trials in the country, its India CEO Jay Chen told ThePrint. He also said some Indian telecom firms have already begun using Huawei’s 5G-related technology in their 4G networks.
Huawei is the world’s biggest telecommunications network equipment supplier but has been bogged down by security concerns, particularly claims by the US that its presence could help the Chinese government gather intelligence in other countries. The Donald Trump administration has since cut off the Chinese firm’s access to its American suppliers.
The security concerns have led to months of doubt on whether the company will be part of India’s 5G trials. According to an NPR report, India is among 48 countries that are undecided about allowing Huawei into the 5G market. The report says the Chinese firm is banned in four countries — Australia, Japan, New Zealand, United States — but is present in 54 other nations.
Chen, however, told ThePrint that India’s security concerns have been addressed.
“The security issue is over,” he said on the sidelines of the India Mobile Congress, the three-day annual telecom exhibition held in New Delhi last week. “The Indian government, industry and customers have sent a strong message to show their trust, confidence and support to Huawei.”
He also denied that Huawei has links to the Chinese government. “Our relationship with the Chinese government is very clear and very simple,” Chen said. “We pay the taxes properly to the government, we do our business by ourselves.”
The company considers India as the world’s “No. 2 wireless market” and has been working to allay the Indian government’s security fears.
But despite Chen’s assertions, India hasn’t made an official announcement on Huawei. India was slated to hold 5G field trials in September 2019 but that has now been delayed.
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Already in the Indian market
While India continues to sit on the fence over allowing Huawei to participate in the 5G trials, Chen told ThePrint that the company has already helped Indian telecom firms deploy 5G technology in their 4G networks.
“We already partner with our customers to apply some 5G-related technology to their existing 4G networks,” Chen said, adding they include CloudAIR, massive MIMO (multiple-input and multiple-output) solutions and 5G microwave.
Media reports say Vodafone-Idea has deployed Huawei’s artificial intelligence-based massive MIMO while Airtel also has the firm’s 5G technology transmission equipment on its networks.
The Chinese company is also drawing heart from the Modi government’s decision to allow it to showcase its 5G capabilities at the India Mobile Congress, which was held with the support of the telecom department.
The telecom department, however, has made it clear that the permission to showcase its equipment does not mean that Huawei will be a part of the 5G trials.
At the event, Huawei partnered with Airtel and Vodafone-Idea to demonstrate 5G. It notably did not partner with Jio this year, though the two had collaborated in last year’s edition of the exhibition.
About this, Chen said, “I have some contact with them (Jio) but finally it did not happen… I think we will have the opportunity to partner with them again some day, somewhere.”
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Chinese govt intervening to ensure fair treatment for its firms
Chen denied any links to the Communist regime in China, but admitted that the government does intervene to ensure “fair treatment” of Chinese investment and sees nothing wrong with this practice.
“Of course the Chinese government tells different countries, governments to offer fair treatment to Chinese investment,” he said. “I always believe that this will help even Huawei get fair treatment.”
Huawei for its part is keen that India get the ball rolling on 5G and wants the Modi government to call for field trials soon.
“What we would like to suggest is for India to start the 5G trials as soon as possible,” Chen said, adding he believes it will help industry and telecom operators have a better understanding of what could be the use cases for 5G connectivity.
He also expressed optimism that India will allow the company to operate here. “I never thought Huawei will be out of the 5G game in India,” he said. “I had confidence at the very beginning that Huawei will be part of India’s 5G journey.”
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