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The mega Rs 13,334-crore alternate communications network which Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd will build for the armed forces is likely to be delayed as the state-run telecom is yet to finalise nearly Rs 4,800 crore of contracts for the crucial optic fibre backbone package.
BSNL has informed telecom secretary MF Farooqui that several key packages, including the optical fibre backbone for the army and navy, network management systems and satellite network could suffer “time slippages”, according to an internal note seen by ET.
The Rs 4,771-crore optic fibre cable network, which will be used by the army and navy for national security requirements, was scheduled for completion this month. Small wonder, Farooqui has asked BSNL to wrap up the fibre optic backbone rollout in two months. “The optic fibre network is a critical component and must be taken on top most priority by BSNL. Purchase orders must be finalised before the next review meeting in April,” the telecom secretary said, the note shows.
A senior BSNL official said that financial bids had been opened last November and the telco is trying to stick to the deadlines set by the telecom secretary. The 60,000-km optic fibre network is at the heart of the Rs 13,334-crore alternate communications backbone.
The defence telecom project is crucial since the armed forces will migrate all communication requirements to this alternate optic fibre network and free more bandwidth for commercial telephony. The armed forces had vacated some 3G airwaves back in August 2010 after it was assured that the telecom department would keep its side of the deal in rolling out an alternate communications network. This had enabled DoT to auction 3G airwaves four years ago.
BSNL’s Rs 13,300-cr mega network project for armed forces may get delayed | idrw.org