The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) is likely to bar US-based telecom equipment maker Alphion Corporation from supplying supply gigabit passive optical network (GPON) systems for the governments? National Optical Fibre Network (NOFN) project.
DoT is likely to issue such directions on the ground that Alphion?s Indian arm does not manufacture telecom equipment locally. Earlier, the Telecom Engineering Centre, the technical wing of DoT, dismissed Alphion India?s claim of being a ?domestic manufacturer? since it has outsourced manufacturing operations to Flextronics Technologies India Private Limited.
DoT?s stance on the issue manifests India?s position on promotion of indigenously manufactured telecom equipment and is in line with its new preferential market access (PMA) policy.
Alphion Corporation is a leading global supplier of GPON. However, GPON systems have been categorised as ?security sensitive? by DoT and the domestic procurement rules for such equipments are going to be more stringent. According to the department, these equipments must be 100 per cent locally manufactured beginning 2014.
DoT has recently announced the names of vendors eligible for supplying GPON equipment for NOFN project. These include Himachal Futuristic Communications, ITI, Tejas Networks, C-DoT, VMC Systems, Prithvi Infosystems, Sai Systems, United Telecoms and SM Creative. The list does not include the name of Alphion India.
