The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has asked Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) to remove restrictive clauses that could hinder procurement of network gear from Indian suppliers for the Rs 130 billion communications network that the operator is building for the armed forces.
DoT, in a communication to R.K. Upadhyay, chairman and managing director, BSNL has asked the operator to ensure that domestic telecom equipment suppliers are not subjected to any restrictive tender conditions and that they be encouraged to supply equipment for the armed forces network in accordance with the preferential market access (PMA) policy.
DoT’s directions have come over as a result of complaints received from United Telecoms Limited and Indian Electronics and Semiconductor Association regarding ‘non-adherence to PMA policy in BSNL’s tenders’ linked to the armed forces communication venture, internally known as the NFS project.
