Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL), a state-run Indian telecom operator, has awarded RVNL (Rail Vikas Nigam Limited) led consortium a nearly Rs 5000 crore deal for developing the middle-mile network of BharatNet. The BharatNet project is an initiative from the government under which the goal is to connect all the unconnected villages in India with high-speed broadband. This deal is for the third phase of the BharatNet project, which is now BSNL's responsibility.
BSNL and Bharat Broadband Network Limited (BBNL) were merged. BBNL is the entity that was tasked with implementing the BharatNet project by the government. When BBNL and BSNL were merged, BSNL got the responsibility of running the project efficiently.
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In a release to the stock exchanges, RVNL said, "it is hereby informed that Rail Vikas Nigam Limited - HFCL Limited – Aerial Telecom Solutions Pvt. Ltd. Consortium emerges as the Lowest Bidder (L1) from Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) for “development (creation, upgradation and operation and maintenance) of middle-mile network of BharatNet on Design Build Operate and Maintain (DBOM) Model."
HFCL, STL, Polycab, Pratap Technologies, Telecommunications Consultants of India (TCIL) and more companies had submitted their bids for the project. The phase 3 of the BharatNet project is for Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh (west), Uttar Pradesh (east), Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Karnataka, Bihar, West Bengal, Jammy and Kashmir, North East Region-1 and North East Region-2, and others.
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The government had come out with an outlay of Rs 65,000 crore for phase-3 of the BharatNet project and the last date to submit bids was August 6, 2024. With this connectivity project, the government wants to end the digital divide in the country and give equal opportunities to citizens, regardless of where they are living. BSNL is also rolling out mobile sites in many rural areas funded by Digital Bharat Nidhi earlier known as USOF (Universal Service Obligation Fund).
