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BSNL’s expansion to involve Rs. 23,000 cr. in current year
Ericsson accepts 13 million GSM line tender
BSNL on Friday said it had finalised the contract for 22.75 million GSM lines and Swedish vendor Ericsson had accepted the order for 13.12 million lines, while Nokia-Siemens would be given the balance soon.
Addressing the media here, newly appointed Chairman and Managing Director Kuldeep. Goyal said: “the order for 22.75 million lines has been finalised and Ericsson has accepted the Letter of Intent for 13.12 million lines. Work is to be completed in 12 months and the LoI for 9.62 million lines is being issued to Nokia (Siemens) shortly.”
The awarding of these contracts would end the yearlong capacity crunch in its mobile services, which was causing it a loss in the subscriber base. The PSU will invest Rs. 22,880 crore in 2007-08 for expansion of its telecom services. About Rs. 7,417 crore will go towards mobile services, while fixed, WLL and broadband and Internet will get Rs.6,200 crore.
Value-added services will get a maximum investment of Rs. 9,230 crore.