ITI Limited emerges as L1 for Rs 3022 crore BharatNet project

New Delhi: ITI Limited has emerged as L1 in BharatNet phase-3 project in the states of Himachal Pradesh for package no. 8 and in West Bengal, and Andaman & Nicobar Islands for package no. 9 with total order value of Rs 3,022 crores. ITI Limited-led consortium has succeeded in these two packages out of 11 packages for which tender was opened till now out of a total of 16 packages covering the length and breadth of the country.

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BSNL had invited tenders for the design, supply, construction, installation, upgradation, operation, and maintenance of BharatNet's Middle Mile Network in the 16 packages/circles. The BharatNet Phase-3 Project is envisaged for the development (creation, upgradation, operation, and maintenance) of BharatNet's Middle Mile Network on a design, build, operate, and maintain (DBOM) model.

BharatNet project is funded by the Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF) under the Department of Telecommunications (DoT). The project aims to bridge the 'digital divide' by delivering high-speed broadband connectivity with bandwidth of 100 Mbps to all Gram Panchayats (GPs) and villages in India ensuring equitable access to online services for all, especially those in rural areas. The project encompasses connecting all 640,000 villages, blocks, and Gram Panchayats across India with high-speed broadband internet connectivity.

Commenting on this new development, ITI Limited Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) Rajesh Rai said, “We are delighted to have emerged as L1 for the prestigious BharatNet phase-3 project in the states of Himachal Pradesh and West Bengal, Sikkim, and Andaman & Nicobar Islands. BharatNet is a nation building project and it gives me immense satisfaction to be part of the execution of this gigantic project.”

Rai added, “BharatNet project aims to empower rural India which will lead to creation of jobs, opportunities, and growth. Needless to say, high-speed internet will be a big boon for students in rural areas, and will contribute towards addressing issues like digital-divide among rural population. ITI Limited is focused on assisting Govt. of India in its initiatives to connect urban as well as rural parts of India seamlessly.”

ITI Limited has vast experience in executing OFN work around India for BharatNet, and is already successfully executing OFN works worth around Rs 5,400 crores in the states of Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, and Gujarat. ITI Limited is the Project Implementation Agency (PIA) for MahaNet-I (BharatNet Phase II) in Maharashtra. In Gujarat, ITI Limited is executing two packages of BharatNet Phase II, for Gujarat Fiber Grid Network Ltd (GFGNL). ITI Limited is also currently executing BharatNet Phase II for TANFINET (Tamil Nadu Fibrenet Corporation Limited).

Recently, ITI Limited won an order from Bihar Renewable Energy Development Authority (BREDA) for supply and installation of 1,00,000 numbers of Solar Street Light Systems to Bihar State Government worth Rs 300 crores.

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