Telecommunications supply chain integrity: Mitigating the supply chain security risks in national public telecommunications infrastructures

Across the globe, many national telecommunications infrastructures are at a crossroads. Incumbent suppliers are increasingly relying on off-shore component sourcing, while new suppliers - some from countries with strong geopolitical tensions - have taken significant actions to position themselves to be major suppliers to various nations´ telecommunications operators. Collectively, these factors have brought a sharp focus to the need for a more in-depth review of the integrity of national telecommunications infrastructures and the supporting foreign product supply chains. This paper delineates the above factors and their related risk implications for national and global communications infrastructures. In doing so, the paper reflects an enhanced risk management model and process Telcordia has developed that accommodates both government and private sector issues and builds upon current security practices.