BANGALORE, INDIA: India has agreed to allow import of Chinese telecom gear certified by international security audit firms, the Economic Times reported on Wednesday, to help mobile operators fend off possible delays.

Top officials from the Prime Minister's Office, the Home Ministry, the Telecommunications Ministry and Intelligence Bureau took the decision, the newspaper said.

Industry officials have earlier said the Indian government has been blocking imports of equipment made by Chinese firms such as ZTE Corp and Huawei Technologies due to security concerns.

The newspaper cited an unnamed official as saying the government would also allow self-certification of imported telecom equipment by mobile operators against a bank guarantee given to the communications ministry.

The stop-gap solution would be in place for the next 12 months and would ensure that Indian telcos do not face project delays even as India sets up an equipment testing laboratory, it said.

Canada's Electronic Warfare Associates, U.S.-based Infoguard and Israel's ALTAL Security Consulting are among the international security audit agencies whose certification would be needed, the paper said.