Pune, Maharashtra, India, 11/06/2007 – Sterlite Optical Technologies Ltd., India’s only global provider and integrated manufacturer of optical fiber today announced that it has received a contract from BSNL for manufacture and supply of 20 to 2000 pair Copper Telecom Cables. These cables would be used to enhance BSNL’s Pan-India network to provide basic telephony and broadband services. The contract is valued at INR 1.43 Billion (~US$ 36 Million) and supplies would be completed within FY 2007-08. With the award of this contract, Sterlite has over 23% market share for Copper Telecom Cables in India in FY 2007-08.
The Ministry of Telecommunication, India has declared the Year 2007 as the ‘Year of Broadband’ and has resolved to make broadband in India further affordable and enable subscribers enter the Information Superhighway.
Broadband services have sparked off a fresh wave in demand for wireline connectivity with leading telecom incumbents in India opting to launch broadband services using the ‘ADSL 2+’ technology, which has given copper cables a fresh lease of life. The copper cables are used for the last mile wiring for landline phones while fiber optic cables are used up to the junction box.
Says Mr K S Rao, CMO - Telecom, “The Ministry of Communication has a target of connecting 20 million broadband subscribers by 2010. We are grateful to BSNL for enabling us to provide infrastructure that is the lifeline for broadband and therein be a key contributor to India’s Broadband Vision.”
About Sterlite Optical Technologies Ltd
Sterlite Optical Technologies Ltd is India’s only and leading global provider of Optical Fibers, Telecommunication Cables and Power Transmission Conductors. It is India's only fully integrated Optical Fiber producer and one of the largest suppliers of Optical Fibers to overseas markets in China, Europe and South East Asia.
Deloitte has nominated Sterlite Optical Technologies as the 6th Fastest Growing Technology Company in India in 2006. The Company is among the winners of the 'Deloitte Technology Fast 50 India & Fast 500 Asia Pacific awards for 2005 & 2006.
Sterlite Optical Technologies is the only company to receive the V&D100 'Top Telecom Cables Company' award in India, consistently since 2004. The Company is a winner of the ‘Amity Award for Corporate Excellence’ and ‘ELCINA Award for R&D’ in 2006.
Sterlite Optical Technologies is listed on the National Stock Exchange and Stock Exchanges at Mumbai and Kolkatta.
The Company has a world class Optical Fiber manufacturing plant located at Aurangabad, India and Telecom Cable & Power Transmission Conductor plants at Silvassa, Haridwar & Pune, India.
About Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL)
Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd. formed in October, 2000, is World's 7th largest Telecommunications Company providing comprehensive range of telecom services in India: Wireline, CDMA mobile, GSM Mobile, Internet, Broadband, Carrier service, MPLS-VPN, VSAT, VoIP services, IN Services etc. Within a span of five years it has become one of the largest public sector unit in India.
BSNL has installed Quality Telecom Network in the country and now focusing on improving it, expanding the network, introducing new telecom services with ICT applications in villages and wining customer's confidence.
Today, it has about 47.3 million line basic telephone capacity, 4 million WLL capacity, 20.1 Million GSM Capacity, more than 37382 fixed exchanges, 18000 BTS, 287 Satellite Stations, 480196 Rkm of OFC Cable, 63730 Rkm of Microwave Network connecting 602 Districts, 7330 cities/towns and 5.5 Lakh villages.
BSNL plans to expand its customer base from present 47 millions lines to 125 million lines by December 2007 and infrastructure investment plan to the tune of Rs. 733 Crores (US$ 16.67 million) in the next three years.
