BSNL floated a tender towards setting up an optical fibre network for the Defence as part of the MoU signed between the DoT and the Ministry of Defence for vacating of 3G spectrum by the latter.

The tender involves procurement, supply, trenching, laying, installation, testing and maintenance of 96 F OFCs as well as accessories for construction of exclusive optical NLD Backbone and Optical Access routes on turnkey basis.

The tender will involve in setting up a highly resilient exclusive OFC-based nationwide optical backbone for 414 Defence sites and optical gigabit access networks at 219 army sites.

BSNL and Project Implementation Core Group of the defence ministry (PICG) will jointly work for the project. Aspects such as project monitoring, installation, testing and acceptance tasks will be carried out by joint teams.

Post setting up of the network, BSNL will hand over all the network assets to the PICG for operations and maintenance.

According to tender terms and conditions, the bidder should be Indian companies but can have up to two joint venture partners for the project.

BSNL CMD Kuldeep Goyal will oversee the progress of the project.