DoT is planning to float a tender for 10,000 base terminal stations (BTSs) to be installed in rural areas where there is no mobile phone connectivity. Worth about Rs 35 billion, this could be one of the largest BTS tenders in the country. Telecom service providers and shortlisted infrastructure providers are eligible to bid for the project, which will be awarded to three operators once the draft tender document is finalised. DoT has also decided to impose rollout obligations on telecom companies that win the bid. The first two towers are proposed to be set up in Jharkhand.
