Vihaan Networks and HFCL bags North East Mobile Connectivity project

Vihaan Networks (VNL) has bagged Rs. 1,648 crore telecom infrastructure project of state-owned BSNL (Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd) for providing connectivity in North East villages.

Vihaan Networks has bagged North East Mobile Connectivity Project and will provide connectivity to over 4,000 villages in remote areas of Arunachal Pradesh and Assam.

Emerging as the lowest bidder in the tender opened for the first phase of the project, VNL will get whole of Arunachal Pradesh which will be around 70 per cent share in the first phase of the North East Mobile Connectivity.

This project is part of the Rs, 5,336.18 crore worth Comprehensive Telecom Development Plan for the North-Eastern Region (NER) comprising 8 states which was approved by the Union Cabinet in September 2014. The project envisages providing mobile coverage in 8,621 unconnected villages and seamless coverage along National Highways in the North-East region through 6,673 towers, and will be funded from the Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF).

The project earmarked by BSNL for the domestic technology players would give the remaining 30 per cent to second lowest bidder HFCL with around 20 per cent price differential at Rs. 1,970 crores, but will be executed at the same price as that of the lowest bid.

VNL has been given the responsibility of creating the infrastructure across bordering state of Arunachal Pradesh while the other partner will execute the project in two districts - Karbi Anglong & Dima Haso of Assam.

Rajiv Mehrotra, chairman, VNL, said, “We are deeply honored for becoming a partner for BSNL’s project in difficult areas of North East. It is both a challenge and opportunity for the home grown company and we consider the awarding of the project is also the recognition of our work for connecting the Left Wing Extremist areas in 10 states."

Under the Phase-I of the project, which is to be executed by state owned operator BSNL, 2,817 sites are to be installed to cover 4,118 remotely located villages and tough terrains in Arunachal Pradesh and two districts of Assam. As per the project condition, the lowest bidder, Vihaan Networks (VNL) in this case, will get to roll out around 1,893 mobile towers in Arunachal Pradesh.