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Aksh, TTL bid lowest for BSNL optical fibre cable

Aksh Optifibre Ltd and Tamil Nadu Telecom Ltd have quoted the lowest prices in bids to supply optical fibre cable to state-owned telecom giant Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd, an industry official said on Monday.

BSNL received bids from 13 Indian companies to supply 60,000 km (37,500 miles) of 12-fibre optical cable and 12,000 km (7,500 miles) of 24-fibre optical cable in response to a tender floated in January.

Aksh's price of Rs 112,060 was the lowest bid for a kilometre of 12-fibre optical cable while Tamil Nadu Telecom's bid of Rs 185,000 a kilometre was the lowest received for 24-fibre cable, the official, who did not want to be identified, told Reuters.

The quoted prices value the total order at Rs 8.943 billion ($190.5 million).

Aksh and Tamil Nadu Telecom, being the lowest bidders, are expected to receive orders to supply about a quarter of BSNL's requirements, he said..

The rest of the 12-fibre cable order is expected to be split between three Sterlite group firms and two MP Birla group companies -- Birla Ericsson Optical Ltd and Vindhya Telelinks Ltd, the official said.

Apart from Tamil Nadu Telecom, the three Sterlite companies -- Sterlite Optical Technologies Ltd, Sterlite Telelink Ltd and Sterlite Telecables Ltd -- and the two M.P. Birla companies will also receive orders to supply 24-fibre cable.

BSNL is expected to place orders over the next month, the official said. It paid Rs 103,500 for one km of 12-fibre optical cable and Rs 183,600 for one km of 24-fibre cable for a smaller optical fibre cable order it awarded in January.

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