BSNL’s Rs 100 billion tender for laying optic fibre network for the defence forces has hit a roadblock. Several cable manufactur-ers have claimed that the state-owned operator’s tender norms favour certain players. According to the eligibility conditions, the participating company should have rolled out 20,000 km of optic fibre cable network to telecom service providers. However, cable manufacturers have stated that optic fibre networks are also used by non-telecom companies such as the Indian Railways. The manufacturers, Paramount Cables in particular, have claimed that the conditions are so restrictive that of the 14- 15 manufacturers, only two-three will qualify for bidding.
Further, BSNL’s tender conditions require the participating cable manufacturing company to own a manufacturing facility.
This goes against players such as HFCL that source cables from foreign players such as Corning and Fujikiura.
