Sterlite Optical bags Rs 143 cr BSNL contract

MUMBAI - Sterlite Optical Technologies has received a contract valued at Rs 143 crore from BSNL to supply copper telecom cables. These cables will be used to enhance BSNL's Pan-India network to provide basic telephony and broadband services.

The contract will be completed in 2007-08 and during this period.

The telecom ministry’s initiative to make broadband services affordable has sparked off a fresh wave of demand for wireline connectivity with leading telecom incumbents in India opting to launch such services using the 'ADSL 2+' technology. This has given copper cables a fresh lease of life, as copper cables are used for the last mile wiring for landline phones while fiber optic cables are used up to the junction box.

“The ministry of telecommunications has a target of connecting 20 million broadband subscribers by 2010,” said KS Rao, chief manager officer of telecom, Sterlite Optical.