ELCOT invites bids for 4G data SIM cards

The Electronics Corporation of Tamil Nadu (ELCOT) has invited bids for the procurement of over 9.69 lakh 4G data SIM cards to provide internet service to the students of government and government-aided colleges. The estimated cost of the project is Rs 100 crore.

The short-tender is part of the government's commitment to provide 2GB free data per day to more than nine lakh college students to attend online classes for a period of four months, beginning January this year.

ELCOT Managing Director D. Ravichandran said, “We are providing 4G data SIM card with 2GB limit each day for four months to eligible students. We are currently gathering information from students about their preference of network in their locations across the state. Tamil Nadu has four internet service providers — BSNL, Airtel, JIO and Vodafone.”

As per the tender specifications, multi-purpose SIM should be supplied to use with normal, micro and nano SIM slots. It should work with all kinds of smart phones and in various OS versions. The 4G data SIM card should be capable of supporting data usage up to 21.2 mbps speed.

The Unified License Holders (ULHs)/Internet Service Providers (ISPs) having 4G license for Tamil Nadu for voice and data are only eligible to bid. The ULH/ISP should have minimum 7,000 towers covering all the 38 districts in Tamil Nadu to provide trouble free services with GSM/LTE data coverage upto 21.2 mbps speed.

The bidder should be a company registered in India under the Indian Companies Act 1956 and existing for the past three years as on March 31, 2020. The ULH/ISP should have an annual turnover of Rs 100 crore and above in the last successive three audited financial years.