Nokia Siemens to provide broadband across 7000 villages

Mumbai

15 October 2007

Nokia Siemens Networks has won a contract from Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL),
a telecommunications service provider, to deploy broadband access across 7000
Indian villages. The contract is a part of the greenfield rural tender from BSNL.

The new access network's high bandwidth will allow BSNL to deliver high
data and triple play intensive services such as video on demand, video
multicast, IPTV, video conferencing and VPN among others to its customers. The
network will also enable BSNL to provide connectivity to CSCs (Community Service
Centers) and other e-governance locations.

The two-year agreement includes supply, installation and commissioning,
training and annual maintenance contract for five years. As part of the
contract, Nokia Siemens Networks is deploying its Gigabit Ethernet-capable IP
DSLAMs Surpass hiX5625 (Digital Subscriber Line Access Multiplexers) and chassis
based access switch (Surpass hiD6615). Nokia Siemens Networks will also supply
end-user devices that will enable BSNL to provide speeds of up to 24Mbps for
ADSL2+ subscribers over its existing copper infrastructure. The first phase of
new lines deployment will be completed by Q1 of 2008.

Kuldeep Goyal, CMD, BSNL said, “The BSNL rural broadband project will
bridge digital divide and connect 20,000 villages in India.”

Martin Luest, Head of Broadband Access for Nokia Siemens Networks said, “Our
technology solution will allow BSNL to offer its subscribers an outstanding
network experience, thanks to faster data transmission over copper telephone
lines than a conventional modem can provide. It will also deliver significant
cost savings for BSNL through its multi-service capability and high capacity.”

This is the second rural broadband access tender BSNL has awarded to Nokia
Siemens Networks. The company is also in parallel deploying the urban broadband
access for BSNL across 15 circles. First phase of that rollout is in advance
stages of completion for 800,000 ports.