GETCO aims to lease optical fibre network to telecom operators

Invites expression of interest from interested players

Gujarat Energy Transmission Corporation Limited (GETCO) is gearing up to lease optical fibre network to telecom operators for their telecom services. The state-run power transmission company has already invited Expression of Interest (EOI) from telecom operators for leasing optical fibre.

GETCO, which has a transmission network of about 38000 kms, plans to effectively utilise its network by installing Optical Fibre Ground Wire (POGW) in place of galvanized earth wire and lease the optical fibre to telecom operators.

The move is in line with National Telecom Policy 1999, which allows the usage of backbone network of power transmission companies or railways etc. for national long distance communication.

In addition to this, Government of India's IT taskforce has recommended railways, state electricity boards (SEBs), Powergrid to lease the excess/spare capacity for data transmission to DoT or Telecom licensees etc.

"GETCO proposes to lease 580.01 kms of 220 KV lines to telecom operators," said a senior company official. "GETCO is expecting telecom operators to avail the optical fibre network for their telecom services, data transfer services or any other services," states the company's notice inviting expression of interest.

The public sector firm has worked out two models for leasing optical fibre.

As per the first model, GETCO will invest and develop the fiber optic network with responsibility of maintaining the same and lease out to operators. As part of the second model,operator will invest, develop and maintain the OPGW along with associated equipments and will pay leasing charges for transmission lines and building used.

GETCO has fixed 25 March, 2010 as the last date for submitting the expression of interest.

The interested player should have necessary licenses as a telecom operator. Set up in the year 1999, GETCO has transmission network of around 2000 kms of 400 KV Lines, 12,500 kms of 220 KV lines, 4600 kms of 132 KV lines and 19000 kms of 66KV lines , totaling to about 38,000 Kms.