| BSNL to float new tender for 40-50mn GSM lines |
| BS Reporter / Mumbai July 31, 2007 |
| Communications Minister A Raja told reporters at Delhi that state owned Bharat Sanchar Nigam will float a new tender for installing 40-50 million GSM lines to expand its telecom services. He added that the installation is expected to be completed within 8-9 months. A Raja said, "I am told that they are ready to go for a larger tender... 40-50 million lines. BSNL has set up a three-member committee to re-evaluate the tender for 45 million GSM connections awarded to Ericsson, to which the communications minister had raised objections." The company had ordered 14 million 2G GSM lines from Ericsson and Nokia, the first phase of a 23 million line order that will be undertaken in two steps, but was awaiting the response from the companies. BSNL had cut the size of its original tender to 23 million lines from 45.5 million lines. The decision to overturn the earlier order, which was a combination of 2G and 3G lines was in lines with the minister |
