PSU BSNL has floated an altogether new tender for shortlisting players to assist it in laying out a new fibre optic cable network for the Defence forces.

The new tender norms are perceived to be more accommodating as compared to original tender which was believed to be favouring only couple of vendors.

According to the new norms even those companies which are not listed can bid for the project. The original norm allowed only listed companies to bid for the project. Additionally as opposed to the original tender which set the eligibility criteria to 20,000 km cable network rollout experience for the vendor to qualify, the new norm has reduced the limit to 15,000 km.

BSNL is laying out the fibre cable network fo Defence as part of an MoU reached between DoT and Defence forces under which an alternate network is to be provided to the Ministry of Defence before it vacates 3G spectrum for civilian use.