Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) has cancelled its plans to purchase GSM equipment through a 3G-like reverse auction process. The company has floated a revised tender based on the old system, wherein vendors quoting the lowest amount will be selected.
Though the bids will be made online, the operator has reversed its earlier plan to allow equipment vendors to revise its offer through a reverse auction mechanism.
BSNL plans to purchase GSM equipment to support about 15 million new subscribers. This is the second revised tender the company has floated over the past six months.
It is believed that the latest change has been carried out because single bid tendering would compel the vendors to quote their best rate since they will not get a second chance.
The operator has been attempting to procure equipment for the past four years. However, its tender gets cancelled each time on allegations of corruption and non-transparency in the process.
