ZTE, Huawei and Alcatel-Lucent have been selected by state owned telco BSNL for 14.37million Global System for Mobile (GSM) communication lines for expansion of 2G and 3G services for requirement of all its telecom circles, except Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh.

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

The expansion of network includes planning, financing, engineering, supply, installation, testing, commissioning and annual maintenance. 

"We have finalised (these) vendors and even given them advance purchase order for the equipments in North, South and East zone. By month end, all circle heads will submit requirement of their divisions. After this, we will place final orders," BSNL Chairman and Managing Director R K Upadhyay told reporters. 

"Mobile telephony started in 1996. BSNL got permit after five years in 2001 to start it. Within a year, BSNL acquired top position. Shortage of equipments pulled us down but now we will strive to regain our leadership," he said.

The company had floated tender for 93 million GSM lines in 2008 for all the telecom circles and for 5.5 million GSM lines in 2010 for the telecom circles of North and East zones which were scrapped of cancelled.