TCS bags Rs 574 crore BSNL deal

Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) has announced a Rs 574 crore ($140 million) deal with BSNL.

As per the deal, TCS will provide BSNL a comprehensive range of services to upgrade existing systems and processes to the next generation convergent billing system.

TCS will lead the project along with a large team of hardware, software and application partners. The multi-year project involves setting up of complex data networks for BSNL in north and west India, and includes deploying operational support systems (OSS) and business support systems (BSS) components such as customer relationship management and billing.

"The project with BSNL is testimony to TCS' ability to help customers experience certainty by leveraging our superior capabilities in systems integration using cutting-edge technologies as well as our strong domain knowledge in the telecom sector," said S Ramadorai, CEO and MD, TCS.

"TCS will leverage its assets, frameworks, development processes, best practices and prior experience of similar engagements to deliver next generation services to the biggest telecom service provider in India and help BSNL deliver certainty to its end users," said N Chandrasekaran, head, global sales and operations, TCS.

TCS SEZ among 15 cleared

The inter-ministerial Board of Approvals (BoA) of the central government has approved 15 special economic zones (SEZs), which include a 30.35 hectares Tata Consultancy Services project and a 16.19 hectares Cognizant Technology project, both in Ranga Reddy district of Andhra Pradesh.

The board took up 27 fresh proposals for consideration. In addition, four zones, which had in-principle approval, were also considered for formal approval.

The board gave in-principle nod to five SEZs, while a decision on 11 zones has been deferred.The SEZs that have got in-principle approval include Mittal Infratech's 10.52-hectares zone at Panipat, Haryana, and two zones of Gitanjali Gems at Aurangabad and Nagpur. The 102 hectares Aurangabad zone of the company is mainly for gems and jewellery, while the 1,000 hectares Nagpur project will be a multi-product zone.

Among the SEZ proposals that were deferred is Sohna Buildcon's 10 hectares electronic hardware zone in Gurgaon, which had issues related to land contiguity.