Bharat Sanchar Nigam (BSNL), awarded a
$90 million (approx. Rs.360 crore) from Motorola to supply GSM network equipment
for supporting an additional 2.3 million subscribers in the southern region.
This contract is an expansion on the
deal signed between BSNL and Motorola in 2003 and has direct link to the PSU
diluting its procurement norms.
However, Motorola will be able to bid
for BSNL’s upcoming 93 million line project, which is estimated to be worth $10
billion. As per the new tender conditions for supply of 93 million GSM lines,
companies without manufacturing facilities can bid for the contract and need to
set up a unit in the country only if they win the tender.