Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited said on Friday it would seek a lower price from vendors Ericsson and Nokia ahead of awarding them an estimated $4.8 billion contract for adding 45 million GSM lines to its network.
"It will be done" was BSNL CMD A K Sinha's reply to a question whether the PSU would seek an Advanced Purchase Order at a lower price of $100 a line as against $107 quoted by Ericsson, which would install 60 per cent of the 45 million lines.
Nokia will execute the remaining 40 per cent. Sinha was talking to reporters after unveiling a new post-paid plan that offers reduced tariffs for roaming customers.
IT and Communications Minister A Raja, who was also present on the occasion, said seeking revision in the APO would not delay the GSM expansion
plan.
The minister had earlier asked BSNL if it could seek a lower price. The GSM network expansion plan of BSNL has already delayed by six months due to a legal battle involving disqualified bidder Motorola.
The US mobile equipment manufacturer, however, withdrew the case unconditionally. "It is big contract spread over three years.. we are still working on the advanced purchase order where we are looking at the selected bidders' quoted price.
"Once that is over, we will work out our own suitable price of the tender and ask them to provide the equipment at that price. If they don't agree, we will negotiate with them. Let that stage come, we are yet to do that when negotiations will take place", Sinha had told PTI on Thursday.
Sinha did not say what would be BSNL's offered price.