The Hindu Business Line : Internet backbone project — BSNL awards $8.2-m contract to UTStarcom

US-based UTStarcom Inc on Wednesday announced that it has been awarded contracts valued at $8.2 million for deploying equipment for Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd's (BSNL) national Internet backbone.

Mr David Robison, Vice-President, International Sales and Marketing, UTStarcom Inc, said, "In providing both our Total Control 1000 and IP-DSLAM solutions for the National Internet Backbone project, UTStarcom has made a strong commitment to support BSNL's plans to extend high-speed Internet access to all of India. In addition, this contract also highlights our ability to successfully cross-sell technology acquired through the CommWorks acquisition in May 2003 to existing UTStarcom customers."

BSNL's National Internet Backbone is a transmission control protocol/internet protocol-based (TCP/IP) network, currently comprising about 400 nodes distributed across India and supporting over one million subscribers. The second phase of the project includes deployment of remote access services (RAS) and related equipment across 71 cities in 25 telecom regions in India, a press statement said.

"As the second-fastest growing economy in Asia and amongst the fastest growing telecom markets worldwide, India will continue to be a key market for UTStarcom," said Mr Ruchir Godura, Country Manager and Director, South Asia, UTStarcom. "BSNL is currently India's largest Internet service provider with over one million subscribers. Its dominance in the fixed-line segment with more than 35 million subscribers, presents a tremendous growth opportunity for BSNL in the data services market in India."

UTStarcom is set to bag another contract from BSNL for its broadband project. The deal is expected to be announced this week.

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