The Indian telco market has been the source of headlines that will make the country’s politicians squirm. The root of this unwelcome PR is a complaint from Bharti Airtel, concerning the quality of “sub-standard equipment” produced by Tejas Networks and installed in Indian state-owned operator BSNL’s 4G network. Homegrown equipment is part of the country’s “Make in India” campaign (Aatmanirbhar Bharat), which covers many aspects of India’s industrial complex and was revived by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. It has its roots in the early 20th-century Swadeshi movement, part of India’s liberation from a British colonial past, when domestically produced goods embodied independence. The telco movement is spearheaded by BSNL, which launched India’s first 4G network with homegrown technology just two…