Bharat Sanchar Nigam (BSNL) has short listed Vihaan Networks (VNL) and Himachal Futuristic Communications (HFCL) for rollout of mobile towers in Arunachal Pradesh and Assam.

Both the companies were short listed for installation of 2,817 mobile towers, with an outlay of around Rs 1,460 crore. VNL emerged as the lowest bidder for the proposed project, while HFCL was the second lowest.

Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF ) will finance the project.

The proposed project is part of the Comprehensive Telecom Development Plan for the North-Eastern Region (NER) which involves providing 2G mobile coverage in identified uncovered areas and seamless mobile coverage along National Highways in the North-Eastern Region. It entails an estimated investment of Rs 5,336.18 crore.

Vihaan Networks will install 1,893 mobile towers in Arunachal Pradesh, while HFCL will roll out 924 mobile towers in two districts of Assam.

BSNL is executing the project on behalf of the government and it will place purchase orders after getting approval from the USOF.

The project is set to be completed by December 2018. However, it will depend on approval from the USOF.

The Bharat Broadband Network also opened its tender for rollout of around 4,500 towers under the project, but has not yet received any bids.