Vendors ZTE, Huawei, Nokia Siemens Networks and Alcatel-Lucent have submitted bids to supply equipment to Indian state-owned fixed-line operators Bharat Sanchar Nigam (BSNL), reports Dow Jones.
Citing two BSNL executives, the report said the equipment…
Vendors ZTE, Huawei, Nokia Siemens Networks and Alcatel-Lucent have submitted bids to supply equipment to Indian state-owned fixed-line operators Bharat Sanchar Nigam (BSNL), reports Dow Jones.
Citing two BSNL executives, the report said the equipment would be used to support BSNL’s expansion plan, which aims to add 3.37 million lines in north India and 2.13 million lines in the east. Last year, the company had to scrap a US$6bn tender aimed at adding 93 million users due to concerns over its procurement procedures, according to Dow Jones.
BSNL expects to finalise the contract within a month, one of the executives was quoted as saying.
A few weeks ago, it was announced that China’s ZTE won a Rs 3bn (US$64m) contract to supply WiMax systems to BSNL. ZTE India chairman and managing director Dr DK Ghosh was quoted as saying that the company would provide the systems to speed up WiMax broadband rollout within the next six months.
Similarly, mobile operator Tata Teleservices awarded another Chinese vendor, Huawei, a contract to roll out 3G in five circles. Leading Indian mobile operator Bharti Airtel also said recently that it selected Ericsson India, Nokia Siemens and Huawei to help launch 3G services in India.
These moves come in the wake of the Indian government lifting a ban on Chinese equipment manufacturers supplying equipment to Indian telcos. The ban reportedly arose due to Indian government concerns that broadband devices could contain spying technologies.
