Complete Chaos

For the rollout of BharatNet Phase-III, in January 2025, BSNL issued advance purchase orders (APOs) for six packages to four entities – Polycab (7), ITI (8 & 9), RVNL (3 & 6), and HFCL (12). All the APOs are subject to the outcome of the cases filed by two companies -Pace Digitek and A2Z Infra – before Delhi High Court challenging their rejections.

In one package (14), BSNL has withheld the APO that was to be issued to TCIL. The reason is unknown.

For two packages (10 & 11), BSNL is still investigating LC Infra-Hathway’s (L1) bid for violation of ISP license condition. How, Hathway’s ISP operation in the very same service areas where it had bid, which is not a secret, could clear BSNL’s first level of screening process, should be a matter of investigation.