INDIA BUSINESS WORLD OCTOBER (1st - 20th) 2007
The Month that was ...
NOKIA SIEMENS BAGS BSNL RURAL CONTRACT
Nokia Siemens Networks has bagged a greenfield rural tender from BSNL to deploy broadband access across 7,000 villages. The two-year agreement includes supply, installation and commissioning, training and annual maintenance. BSNL and Nokia Siemens did not reveal the deal size. The first phase of new lines deployment will be completed by Q1 of 2008.
The new access network's high bandwidth will allow BSNL to deliver high data and triple-play intensive services such as video-on-demand, video multi-cast, IPTV, video conferencing and VPN among others to its customers. The network will also enable BSNL to provide connectivity to CSCs (Community Service Centres) and other egovernance locations, Nokia Siemens Networks said in a statement.
This is the second rural broadband access tender that BSNL has awarded to Nokia Siemens Networks. The company is also in parallel deploying the urban broadband access for BSNL across 15 circles. The first phase of that roll-out is in advance stages of completion for 8,00,000 ports.
BSNL chairman and managing director Kuldeep Goyal said that the PSU's rural broadband project will bridge digital divide and connect 20,000 villages in "India is a pioneer in providing affordable high-quality communications services to Indian consumers and this mega broadband expansion initiative is another step in that direction," he said.
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