Indian network equipment provider Gemini Communication and its subsidiary PointRed Telecom won an INR 4.5bn ($93) contract from state-run telecoms operator Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) to deploy an IEEE 802.16e mobile WiMax network in India. Gemini Communication is the trusted partner in Network, Network Security, LAN, WAN, E-Governance, ITeS, IT Strategic, IT consulting and Wireless domains for thousands of small and mid-size businesses worldwide.
Under the deal, the company will build 7,000 mobile WiMax base stations across BSNL’s network. It is reported that PointRed will get 40% of the contract, with the remaining 60% to be shared between ZTE, Harris Stratex and Alvarion.
The network will connect CSC’s across India for delivering e-governance service for commercial broadband services.
Earlier this year, BSNL awarded the first phase of the INR 2.7bn ($58m) mobile Wimax project to Huawei and Gemini-PointRed. The first phase of the WiMax deployment will be completed by the end of January and involves the installation of 1,100 base stations across India. System integration will be done by Chennai firm and ZTE submitted a bid to both supply and deploy itself.
The current Indian WiMax service was set up under a revenue sharing medit in Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa and Andhra Prades provinces, generally in urban areas. BSNL will continue to award urban WiMax contracts and will provide CPEs to subscribers in rural areas to complete the project by December 2010.
