The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has decided to maintain the status quo on the process followed by it to provide security clearances to telecom companies.

Earlier, the Ministry of Home Affairs had asked DoT to introduce stringent rules to ensure that communications networks being established in the country are secure. In response, DoT had set-up a committee to review the existing rules for providing security clearances to operators.

However, after examining the issue in detail, the department has claimed that stricter rules could discourage investments and affect smaller operators offering internet services. According to DoT, additional process of obtaining security clearance may affect these small players adversely. It added that the past experience of players obtaining security clearance from Ministry of Home Affairs has not been encouraging.

Further, the DoT panel has suggested that if the ministry has concerns regarding a specific company, then it can notify the department for appropriate action. The committee has also pointed out that the ministry has been taking longer time in granting security clearances to foreign personnel. Under existing rules, the names of all foreigners holding key positions in a telecom company have to be cleared by the Ministry of Home Affairs. DoT has suggested that clearance’s validity, currently at one year, be extended to five.