MTNL issues Rs 750 crore GSM tender for Delhi

Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd (MTNL) has called for a Rs 750-crore open tender for rolling out two million lines on the GSM platform on a turnkey basis for Delhi. MTNL provides basic, cellular, Internet and broadband services in both Delhi and Mumbai. Company executives said the global open tender has been called for in two phases of one million each.

"Phase I will see the addition of 0.75 million lines to enhance the existing 2G services and 0.25 million lines that are 3G-enabled, while under Phase II, 0.5 million each of both 2G and 3G lines will be installed," company executives said.

The scope of the tender included planning, engineering, supply, installation, testing and commissioning of the entire 2G network of GSM and 3G network of 'Release 4 WDCA technology' and higher versions, and other associated networks for SMS, MMS and value-added services, the PSU said.

The tender also stipulates the new equipment to be in sync with the company's existing infrastructure, supplied by companies such as Huawei, Motorola and UshaComm. It also permits successful bidders to outsource the manufacturing of equipment to a third party.

For Phase I, successful bidders could supply equipment as completely built units, while for the next phase, 50 per cent of the main equipment, including radio and switching networks, must be manufactured in India with a minimum value addition of 30 per cent, the company added.

Additionally, bidders will have to furnish proof of having achieved value addition of 30 per cent.