BSNL awards contract to NSN to add 6 mln subscribers in 3 yrs

New Delhi, June 6 (UNI) Aiming to roll out six million connections over the next three years, state-owned Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) today awarded a three-year contract to Nokia Siemens Networks (NSN) to modernise its network.

By July-end this year, NSN will integrate Gigabit Ethernet-capable IP DSLAMs (Digital Subscriber Line Access Multiplexers) in the carrier's network and also supply the end-user devices required for subscribers.

BSNL may also subscribe additional three million connections during the same period which will be used to offer multimedia services such as high-speed Internet, IPTV, games and video on demand to its customers.

The new access network's high bandwidth will ensure that BSNL customers will be able to use data-intensive applications with the highest quality and without long waiting times.

In the first phase, BSNL will supply to 283 cities in 17 states with 8,00,000 new high-speed connections based on Carrier Ethernet technology from Nokia Siemens Networks, a statement said.

BSNL has concluded a turnkey agreement with NSN to modernise its access network in 17 states.

In addition, the high density multi-service access solution supports up to 1,152 ports in a single chassis, thus providing cost savings for space and power.

The agreement comprises installation and commissioning, including training for BSNL's technicians and annual maintenance for five years.

BSNL has a network of over 60 million subscribers covering 5,000 towns with over 35 million telephone connections.

UNI