Indian Telecom Industries (ITI) bagged a GSM order worth Rs.750 crore from Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd (MTNL) for expanding its Mumbai operations. MTNL has called for a open tender in two phases of one million each for rolling out two million GSM lines in Delhi.

The scope of the tender includes planning, engineering, supply, installation, testing and commissioning of the entire 2G network of GSM and 3G network of 'Release 4 WDCA Technology' and higher versions, and other associated networks for SMS, MMS and value-added services.

The tender also stipulates the new equipment to be synchronised with the company's existing infrastructure, supplied by companies such as Huawei, Motorola and UshaComm. It also permits successful bidders to outsource the manufacturing of equipment to a third party.

In Phase I there will be an addition of 0.75 million lines to enhance the existing 2G services and 0.25 million lines that are 3G-enabled. Under Phase II, 0.5 million each of both 2G and 3G lines will be installed.

Phase I, successful bidders is likely to supply equipment as completely built units, while for the next phase, 50 per cent of the main equipment, including radio and switching networks, must be manufactured in India with a minimum value addition of 30 per cent.

Additionally, bidders will have to furnish proof of having achieved value addition of 30 per cent.

Also See:

MTNL to invest Rs.1.312 crore, targets 5.5 lakh new connections in Delhi (16-Sep-05)