More than six months right after BSN’s 4G tender was cancelled since of complaints that it does not market homegrown firms, the government has decided that only Indian firms can provide core network for the network, a move hailed by the regional firms. The government feels that a locally created and manufactured network for BSNL gives an chance to the nation to grow to be self-reliant in telecom. It expects that firms like Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), Tech Mahindra, and so forth., can play a pivotal part in instances to come as future telecom networks will be computer software -driven.
BSNL has accordingly come out with an expression of interest (EoI) for the upcoming 4G tender for installation of about 57,000 web pages.
As per the government, only Indian firms, registered and headquartered in India, can provide core network of BSNL. Companies like Nokia, Samsung and Ericsson will not be in a position to participate for offering core network. As per the EoI, the core shall be Indian and the IPR or licence/copyright for the supply code of the computer software should really be owned by an Indian business, and it need to have unrestricted, irrevocable access and licence to modify the supply code and provide computer software assistance for all future versions of the computer software.
For the radio network like base tower stations (BTS), these worldwide firms can bid but they want to deposit their supply code in an escrow account. “The escrowed version of the software shall be upgraded/updated regularly and will be the same as the version in the field,” the EoI stated.
Also, 20% of the radio network will be reserved for ITI, which can companion any Indian business for sourcing the gear. Chinese firms like Huawei and ZTE will be barred from participating in the tender.
“Telecom is a critical sector. BSNL 4G network procurement is a great opportunity to build Indian telecom stack. 5G networks will also initially ride on 4G core. It is time that Indian multi-national companies commence world class telecom manufacturing,” telecom secretary Anshu Prakash told FE. He also refuted issues about the high quality and capability of Indian firms with regard to telecom gear manufacturing. BSNL employees’ union has also criticised the government for forcing the business to invest in gear from regional firms, calling their merchandise “sub-standard”.
BSNL, also, has place forth its issues about utilizing regional gear for 4G network ahead of a DoT-appointed technical committee as properly as NITI Aayog, but so far the challenges raised by it have not been accepted. The telco has currently stated that gear produced by regional firms is high-priced as properly as sub-typical. In a current letter to division of telecommunications (DoT), BSNL has stated in some situations, regional gear is 88% high-priced compared with worldwide suppliers.
But a DoT committee did not agree with the issues and decided to go ahead with regional firms by means of a program integrator model to roll out the 4G network of BSNL. For Indian firms, which have not proved their technical capabilities, they will be provided a opportunity to demonstrate their technologies. If the firms effectively full the trials, they will be eligible to participate in the tender.
“We welcome the positive step to encourage use of indigenous telecom products by BSNL and DoT in their 4G network. I am confident that Indians have the capability and the domestic industry is well geared to deliver world-class products and realise the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat in the strategically important telecom sector,” Sanjay Nayak, MD & CEO, Tejas Networks, told FE.
As per Telecom Equipment Manufacturers Association of India (Tema), a body of regional telecom gear firms, it is time for the sector to show and prove its capabilities. “The requirement of Indian core and source code will go a long way to promote Atmanirbhar telecom bharat. This is one of the rarest and boldest decisions taken for Atmanirbhar Bharat,” NK Goyal, chairman emeritus, Tema, stated.