BSNL’s GSM project is facing quite some issues in setting up the necessary telecom infrastructure. As per the standard process, the government owned telecom giant attracted proposals from various telecom equipment manufacturers for its Rs 30,000 crore GSM project. The big players in this race were: Ericsson, Huawei, NSN, Alcatel Lucent and ZTE. The bidding process was going smoothly until the Finnish telecom equipment maker; Nokia Siemens Networks (NSN) was rejected by BSNL’s bidding panel.

NSN’s proposal was rejected because it had not submitted an experience certificate for the North Zone. (Experience certificate is required to certify operating experience in each of the four Indian Zones). Now, NSN has shot off a letter to BSNL claiming that the PSU has unfairly singled out NSN from the bidding process. NSN said that the certificate submitted for other zones was relevant for the North zone as well; in addition, the letter also said that if BSNL had to disqualify its bid, then it should have also rejected Ericsson’s bid since the latter had allegedly not given a separate certificate.

BSNL has referred this dispute to an integrity panel approved by the Central Vigilance. Two former Chief Election Commissioners — Mr T.S. Krishnamurthy and Mr B.B. Tandon — are the members on this panel.