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Telecommunications equipment industry

BSNL Delays Mega GSM Tender Bids Amidst Equipment Vendors' Request for Extra Time

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

BSNL, India's largest telecom operator, has pushed back the opening of bids for its massive GSM tender of 45.5 million lines by two weeks. This decision comes after leading equipment vendors, including Nokia, Ericsson, and Motorola, requested additional time to meet the necessary conditions before submitting their bids. The tender, which aims to add 63 million lines, has piqued the interest of 18 top telecom and IT companies. French equipment manufacturer Alcatel, which has already secured an order for 18 million lines through its partnership with ITI, will also be eligible to bid for the remaining capacity. BSNL officials have assured that the conditions laid down in the tender document will apply equally to all companies, ensuring a level playing field.

Key Takeaways:

  • BSNL has delayed the opening of bids for its 45.5 million GSM line tender by two weeks due to equipment vendors' request for more time.
  • The tender has attracted interest from 18 leading telecom and IT companies, including Nokia, Ericsson, Motorola, Cisco, and HP.
  • French equipment manufacturer Alcatel, which has already secured an order for 18 million lines through its partnership with ITI, will also be eligible to bid for the remaining capacity.
  • BSNL will add 63 million lines, with 30% reserved for another PSU, ITI.
  • Conditions laid down in the tender document will apply equally to all companies, ensuring a level playing field.
  • The delay has been described as a two-week extension, with the new deadline set for June 12.
  • S D Saxena, Finance Director, BSNL, has confirmed the extension, stating that all clarifications were submitted to vendors but they requested additional time.
  • The delay has raised questions about the preparedness of equipment manufacturers and the implications for BSNL's ambitious target.

Statistics:

  • 45.5 million: The number of GSM lines included in the tender.
  • 18: The number of leading telecom and IT companies that have expressed interest in bidding.
  • 63 million: The total number of lines that BSNL aims to add.
  • 30%: The percentage of lines reserved for ITI, a PSU.
  • 18 million: The number of lines secured by Alcatel through its partnership with ITI.
  • 2: Weeks added to the original deadline for bids, pushing the new deadline to June 12.

Sources:

  • Asia Pulse, "BSNL delays mega GSM tender bids amid vendors' plea for extra time," June 1
  • PTI, no date or publication information available

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