INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
India is the world's second-biggest market by number of phone users.India will allow mobile carriers to carry out 5G trials with equipment
makers including Ericsson, Nokia, and Samsung's network unit, the government said on Tuesday but did not name China's Huawei among the
Major carriers Reliance Industries' Jio Infocomm, Bharti Airtel, and Vodafone Idea will conduct the trials along with state-run MTNL in
urban, rural, and semi-urban areas, the Ministry of Communications said in a statement.The statement did not mention Huawei and smaller
Chinese rival ZTE among the participating network equipment suppliers
Huawei declined to comment, while ZTE and the Indian ministry did not immediately respond to requests for comment about the list of
companies involved.While India has not named the Chinese players as taking part in the six-month trials, which aim to test 5G gear and
technology in different environments, it has not banned them from supplying 5G equipment to carriers.Two government officials told Reuters
in March, though, that New Delhi will likely block mobile carriers from using telecom equipment made by Huawei, under procurement rules due
to come into force in June.India is the world's second-biggest market by number of phone users
Authorities are wary of awarding new technology business to Chinese companies because of security concerns, government sources have
previously said, and a desire to help local telecoms equipment manufacturers.The government's telecoms department said in March that,
after June 15, carriers can only buy certain types of equipment from state-approved "trusted sources" and said New Delhi could also create a
"no procurement" list of banned suppliers.Huawei and ZTE are likely to be on this embargoed list, Reuters reported in March.
