Two low bidders - 45 million BSNL lines are waiting for you

Details: Alec Barton; Category: Wireless Networks; 31 March 2006; 8478 views

Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd is inviting tenders to supply enough mobile equipment to roll out 63.5 million lines.

Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) is inviting tenders to supply enough mobile equipment to roll out 63.5 million lines.

While some 18 million lines are reserved for the ITI-Alcatel joint venture allowed under the Indian Government's quota system, no fewer than 45.5 million more lines are there for the two lowest bidders.

3G technology will also have its role to play - in 25% of the lines initially but ultimately, it is expected, rising to half. A K Sinha, BSNL's Chairman and Managing Director, BSNL, has said: "We are assuming that the government will allocate the spectrum required for 3G services by the time we finalise this tender."

This is a project for the big players in world telecoms - Nokia, Ericsson, ZTE, Huawei and Motorola are expected to tender. In turn, and in an attempt to stimulate Indian manufacturing, BSNL has made it a condition that local manufacturing units are established. They can be purely independent or administered via companies with an existing presence in India .