BSNL Board Meets To Review GSM Tender

New Delhi: The BSNL board will not to go for a re-bid for its 45.5-million cellular line but work around the existing tender. The board, which met on July 16, to discuss the controversial contract, will submit its proposal to the Communications and IT Minister, Mr A. Raja, on July 16, who will take the final decision. The tender unlikely to be scrapped, which could mean that Motorola and ZTE may find it difficult to re-bid for the contract. Mr Raja had urged BSNL to review the contract on the grounds that the price offered by the lowest bidder, Ericsson, was on the higher side. The Minister had advised that BSNL should reduce the number of third-generation cellular lines in the contract in order to bring down overall costs. Mr Raja had also asked clarification as to why BSNL disqualified Motorola from bidding for the project.