ITI Secures ₹1,901 Crore BSNL Deal for BharatNet Rollout in Arunachal, Nagaland, Manipur.

State-owned telecom service provider Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) has awarded a significant ₹1,901.1 crore contract to ITI Ltd, another government undertaking, for the implementation of the Amended BharatNet programme in Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, and Manipur.

Sources close to the development told businessline that the agreement was signed on Thursday.

Under the terms of the contract, ITI Ltd will be responsible for the creation, upgradation, and ongoing operation and maintenance of the network infrastructure across these three Northeastern states.

BSNL, acting on behalf of the Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF), had initiated the bidding process on February 15, 2024, seeking a "Project Implementation Agency (PIA) for Amended BharatNet Program." After a competitive selection process involving multiple proposals, ITI was chosen as the PIA for a ten-year term. This initiative aims to bolster digital connectivity and bridge the digital divide in these crucial regions.