Fifteen companies including British Telecom have been shortlisted by the government to select a telecom vendor which will certify equipments imported by various mobile companies into the country, especially from China.

Official sources said the Department of Telecom has been asked to pick up the international security audit firm which will certify the imported equipments.

The move comes as a breather for vendors especially from China like Huawei and ZTE, as well as Indian telecom companies like Reliance Communications and Tata Teleservices that are looking for cost-effective telecom gear to expand their networks.

Under a proposal, Government has allowed telecom companies to import the equipment from foreign suppliers only after an International Certification Agency visits the plant of the vendor and gives a security clearance.

India currently does not have any Certification Agency.

The mobile operators who intend to import telecom equipment have to give a bank guarantee to the Department of Communication.

The operators will be liable to forfeit their bank guarantee and may also face criminal proceedings, if any security threats are detected in the equipment at a later stage.

The stopgap solution, which will be in place for the next 12 months, will ensure that Indian telcom companies do not face project delays.

The government, in the meantime, will initiate the process to set up an indigenous Certification Agency of international standard.

The certification work was initiated by Indian Institute of Sciences but could not make a major headway.