The Hindu Business Line : BSNL’s GSM project faces further delay

New Delhi, June 15 Finnish telecom equipment-maker Nokia Siemens Networks (NSN) has shot off a fresh letter to Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd’s two-member integrity panel alleging that it has been unfairly singled out of the bidding process for the Rs 30,000- crore GSM project.

NSN has alleged some of the other bidders had also not produced certificates required to be eligible for the tender.

The panel is investigating whether the tendering process was transparent or not. BSNL will not award the contracts till the investigations are complete.

Experience certificate

The Punjab and Haryana High Court had directed BSNL to give the reasons in writing. According to BSNL sources, NSN had not submitted an experience certificate for the North zone. However, NSN countered it on the ground that the certificate submitted for other zones was relevant for the North zone as well. NSN said in its letter that if BSNL had to disqualify its bid, then the PSU should have also rejected Ericsson’s bid since the latter had allegedly not given a separate certificate for 2G equipment, though BSNL had floated different tenders for 2G and 3G equipment.

BSNL had referred the dispute to an integrity panel approved by the Central Vigilance Commissioner after NSN took its case to the CVC seeking intervention. Two former Chief Election Commissioners — Mr T.S. Krishnamurthy and Mr B.B. Tandon — are the members on this panel. Ericsson and Huawei were short-listed by BSNL, which had rejected offers from NSN, Alcatel Lucent and ZTE.

Related Stories:
HC asks BSNL to maintain status quo on GSM tender till June 10
BSNL’s vigilance officer seeks clarification on GSM tender
Court tells BSNL to give reasons for disqualifying Nokia Siemens offer
BSNL’s GSM project under rough weather
Ericsson, Huawei shortlisted for BSNL’s $6-b GSM contract

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