New Delhi, July 16 -- Indian telecom equipment manufacturers are voicing concerns over policy advantages given to foreign companies like Ericsson and Cisco, as these global players expand their local operations to tap into India's growing telecom infrastructure.

The issue has sparked a debate at the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), which is balancing two priorities - attracting global manufacturers and supporting the growth of domestic firms, according to The Hindu.

A key concern is that foreign firms assembling equipment in India may qualify as Class-II suppliers under the 2017 Make in India public procurement policy, allowing them to bid for government projects even with partial local production. Meanwhile, Indian companies are...