ZTE a global provider of telecommunications equipment and network solutions has bagged India’s largest GSM deal from Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL). ZTE will now support 10.15 million BSNL’s GSM lines across the country and thereby help increase its subscriber base.

Under this partnership, ZTE will be involved in planning, financing, engineering, supply, installation and testing, commissioning and annual maintenance of the GSM lines. The procurement of these lines for expansion of 2G and 3G services will cover all BSNL telecom circles in Northern & Southern Zones.

Cui Liangjun, Chief Executive Officer, ZTE India said, “We are excited to partner with BSNL to support their ambitious growth plans in North and South India. We are confident that this association will help BSNL to offer competitive mobile communications that can meet the present and future telecommunication needs, and help ZTE boost its business in the Indian sub-continent.”

BSNL had floated tender for the expansion in July 2011 under phase seven of expansion. Telecom equipment major and Ericsson, Huawei and Nokia Siemens Network, and Alcatel Lucent had also participated in the bid.

The expansion of network includes planning, financing, engineering, supply, installation, testing, commissioning and annual maintenance. Last month ZTE, Huawei and Alcatel-Lucent were selected by state owned telco BSNL for 14.37million Global System for Mobile (GSM) communication lines.

According to reports, Huawei, Alcatel Lucent, Ericsson and Nokia Siemens Networks had declined to match the lowest price of $50 per line quoted by ZTE, said three people familiar with the development.