BSNL may invite bids from its existing vendors to install 60 million GSM lines

BSNL may invite bids from its existing vendors for a GSM tender to install an additional capacity of 60 million lines. A high-level BSNL committee has made this recommendation in order to avoid interoperability problems due to two networks of different vendors. In effect, Nokia, Motorola, Nortel, Ericsson and ITIAlcatel may be the only vendors who would be eligible to particIpate in the tender. This would be the world’s largest procurement of GSM equipment and will more than double the country’s installed capacity for GSM services. The value of the order would be over Rs 200 billion.