A consortium led by Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) on May 22 announced that it received an Advance Purchase Order (APO) valued at over Rs 15,000 crore (around $1.8 billion) from government-owned telecom enterprise Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL). With the new deal, TCS will carry out deployment of 4G network across India for BSNL.
The TCS-led consortium includes Tejas Networks and C-DOT. Tata Group’s telecom gear making company Tejas Networks will be responsible for supplying and servicing the Radio Access Networks (RAN) equipment. Along with TCS, the APO was also issued to state-run ITI Ltd for this project. According to analysts, about 20 percent of the work and deal value will go to ITI.
The deal is the Indian IT services giant’s third major deal in 2023, after a $723-million deal from UK-based Phoenix Group and with British retailer Marks and Spencer. TCS already runs India’s passport project, the Indian Railways’ IRCTC site, and India Post’s digital project. Its contract for running the Passport Seva Programme was renewed last year in a deal worth Rs. 8,000 crore, said reports.
The deal to revive BSNL was in talks since September 2022.In July 2022, the Union Cabinet had approved a Rs 1.64 lakh crore revival package for BSNL, which included cash support of Rs 43,964 crore and non-cash support of Rs 1.20 lakh crore.
