HFCL wins Rs 141 crore purchase order from BSNL for supply of 4G, 5G backhaul solutions

Homegrown telecom gear maker HFCL has secured a purchase order (PO) of Rs 141 crore from state-owned Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) for the supply of 4G and 5G backhauling solutions for the telco’s pan-India mobile networks.

The PO comprises a capital expenditure (capex) of Rs 119 crore and an annual maintenance contract (AMC) of Rs 22 crore, as per a statement by HFCL on Tuesday. This is out of the Rs 179 crore advanced purchase order (APO) issued to the vendor, while the balance order of Rs 38 crore is expected to be released on completion of supply against the current PO.

Under this Order, HFCL will provide product and services to BSNL crucial for supporting 4G and 5G network requirements. The scope under this order encompasses initial planning, on-site surveys, supply installation, testing, commissioning, operations and annual maintenance of microwave links.

This network integration will be complemented by HFCL’s 5GHz Unlicensed Band Packet radio systems, along with antennas, cables and other key accessories.

HFCL said the strategic investment will enable BSNL to build its 5G-ready network infrastructure while ensuring cost-efficiency by minimising equipment expenses and eliminating hefty spectrum usage charges.

The vendor said its matured products such as UBR, have positioned the company as a leader in the domain, having supplied more than 3.5 lakh units to its existing customers in India and global markets.

“With a strategic “Make in India” approach, our cutting-edge 4G and 5G backhauling solution emphasizes capturing opportunities in global markets while aligning with the India Stack initiative. The deployment of these advanced solutions promises higher data transfer rates, low latency and enhanced reliability and performance,” said Mahendra Nahata, Managing Director, HFCL.