TMCnet News
TCIL, Kuwait Telecom close to inking Rs 200 crore deal [ICT Monitor Worldwide](ICT Monitor Worldwide Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Telecom Consultants India (TCIL) is close to bagging a nearly Rs 200-crore contract for upgrading and maintaining Kuwait Telecommunications Co's landline and broadband networks, its chairman & managing director said. TCIL has emerged the lowest bidder in Kuwait Telecom's landline expansion and maintenance tender, Vimal Wakhlu told ET, but declined to reveal the bid amount. If TCIL bags the contract, it will handle network development and maintenance on a turnkey basis for Kuwait Telecom's wireline and broadband networks in a majority of the country's governorates or regions. Kuwait is divided into six 'governorates' or core regions, which are further split into districts. Under tender norms, the lowest bidder will develop and maintain Kuwait Telecom's landline and broadband networks in four out of the six governorates. The lowest bidder will need to maintain Kuwait Telecom's 3.3 lakh linestrong landline network and 90,000-odd fibre-to-the-home broadband links, said Wakhlu. Broadband connectivity through the FTTH route offers unbridled download speeds of upto 100 Mbps, which can enable a full movie download in minutes. Since the project will be implemented on a turnkey basis, the lowest bidder will also be responsible for arranging equipment supplies apart from handling network planning and maintenance elements. In this light, Wakhlu said that TCIL proposes to line up the required equipment and optic fibre cable (OFC) systems through its foreign and local supplier partners, including Turkey's HES Cable Systems, Saudi Cables, Tamil Nadu Telecommunications (TTL) and Aksh Optifibre. The latest developments come at a time when TCIL is exploring ways to raise Rs 1000 crore over the next two years, part of which will be used for delivering managed services in West Asia and African markets where it is executing several FTTH ventures on a deferred payment basis. Wakhlu concedes raising money remains a challenge, especially after the Telecom Commission shelved TCIL's disinvestment plans last year, citing unfavourable market conditions. Telecom Commission, which is the highest decision-making body in the communications ministry, had met last July to take a call on the government selling 10& stake in the telecom PSU, which had been originally recommended by the disinvestment department in March 2012. Provided by Syndigate.info, an Albawaba.com company (c) 2014 All rights reserved. Albawaba.com |