BSNL seeks legal advice on GSM tender
Troubled telecom operator BSNL seeks legal views before satisfying A Raja's queries on GSM tender issue.
By PTI |
NEW DELHI: BSNL, struggling to cut the delay in its mobile expansion plan, has sought legal views before finalising its response to the queries of Telecom Minister A Raja, including disqualification of Motorola, over the 45.5 million lines GSM contract.
Sources associated with the process said BSNL has already made the draft for the board meeting and is waiting for consultation with legal advisors before finalising the draft. Presenting legal advisors views will strengthen BSNL's decision to disqualify Motorola, a key query of the Minister, the sources added.
The possibility of the entire tender being scrapped and initiating rebidding is remote, they said.
"Motorola was not the lowest bidder in the tender and its price of 69 dollars to MTNL could not be compared to our contract as MTNL's was a much smaller contract and ours is huge and we also inserted many value added advanced features in our equipment contract which were not included in MTNL deal," they said.
"Motorola's disqualification for delivering 3G equipment was just one reason out of many."
"If we get the legal advisors' opinion today, the board may even meet tomorrow. But otherwise we may hold it on Monday. Our legal advisors were earlier associated with the tender terms."
Whatever is the change is the tender terms, there is likely to be a reduction of up to Rs 4,000 crore from the original tender value of Rs 18,500 crore, sources said, pointing out that when the contract was awarded, dollar was ruling at Rs 44 and now it is Rs 41. There will be some gain to BSNL out of this rupee appreciation also.
Sources associated with the process said BSNL has already made the draft for the board meeting and is waiting for consultation with legal advisors before finalising the draft. Presenting legal advisors views will strengthen BSNL's decision to disqualify Motorola, a key query of the Minister, the sources added.
The possibility of the entire tender being scrapped and initiating rebidding is remote, they said.
"Motorola was not the lowest bidder in the tender and its price of 69 dollars to MTNL could not be compared to our contract as MTNL's was a much smaller contract and ours is huge and we also inserted many value added advanced features in our equipment contract which were not included in MTNL deal," they said.
"Motorola's disqualification for delivering 3G equipment was just one reason out of many."
"If we get the legal advisors' opinion today, the board may even meet tomorrow. But otherwise we may hold it on Monday. Our legal advisors were earlier associated with the tender terms."
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Whatever is the change is the tender terms, there is likely to be a reduction of up to Rs 4,000 crore from the original tender value of Rs 18,500 crore, sources said, pointing out that when the contract was awarded, dollar was ruling at Rs 44 and now it is Rs 41. There will be some gain to BSNL out of this rupee appreciation also.
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