State-owned technology firm ITI Ltd said on Thursday it expects to sign a contract with the Ministry of Defence for a telecom network worth 7,796 crores soon.
In 2017, the company was declared the lowest bidder for Phase IV tendering of the Army Static Switched Contact Network (ASCON).
“ITI Limited was declared as LI in the ‘ASCON Phase IV Project’ in the year 2017. In this regard, the ASCON working group, Integrated HQ of MoD (Army), has communicated to the Company vide its letter…dated 10th September 2020 that necessary approval for the project has been obtained and the contract is expected to be signed very shortly,” it said in a regulatory filing.
The project involves civil works, the company said in a statement, to provide the complete infrastructure
needed at various sites and optical fiber networks. It also includes telecom equipment procurement, installation, commissioning, and servicing such as IP / MPLS Routers, Microwave Radio, Satellite Terminals, NMS, Mobile Nodes, and Test Equipment.
“The value of the bid is approximately ₹7,796 crore (including taxes),” the filing said.
ASCON is the army’s telecom network backbone, implemented in phases along the borders. The network consists of a large number of voice and data switches interconnected with various media types like microwave radio, optical fiber equipment, and satellites.
ASCON Phase-IV will be a pan-India network spanning different terrains in the northern, north-eastern and western regions.
