BSNL places order with Huawei for expansion; no fresh bids

State-run telecom operator Bharat Sanchar Nigam (BSNL) today said it has placed purchase order for mobile equipment for 20 million GSM lines for the south zone with Chinese firm Huawei and will not call for any fresh bids.

"We have already given an order to Huwaei for the 2G lines in south zone. The Advanced Purchase Order is for 2G part which is roughly 20 million. Immediate order will be for 8 million," Kuldeep Goyal, chairman and managing director, BSNL said today.

He said the firm is also in advanced stages of negotiations with Ericsson for the north (25 million) and east zone (18 million). The value of the order was not disclosed.

"We hope to finalise it soon," he added.

Asked if BSNL is mulling re-tendering of the 93 million GSM lines in the wake of DoT's suggestion to do so, Goyal said, "The tender is under evaluation, so no question of retendering at this time."

For the west zone, Huawei was the lowest bidder but BSNL did not place the order with the Chinese firm as security concerns were raised on placing any order with Huawei in border areas.

On the CCEA decision to go for listing of all porfit-making PSUs, which will include BSNL as well, he said the timing depends on the government.