Nortel’s foray into India’s wireless market has been far from pretty. First, its $500-million deal with Bharat Sanchar Nigam will generate a loss of nearly $200-million when all is said and done. Now, there is a report that parts of BSNL’s network has been delayed due to problems getting equipment such as base transceiver stations and other infrastructure from Nortel. India’s Business Standard quotes Nortel vice-president Rajan Mehta as confirming the project missed its mid-2005 deadline but it is now expected to be completed within a couple months. “This is huge project, involving setting up of around 11,000 cell stations within 9 to 12 months,” he said. The BSNL contract was one of the reasons that Nortel COO Gary Daichendt decided to leave the company last June. He was against the deal while ex-CEO Bill Owens supported it.
BSNL Network Delayed
Nortel’s foray into India’s wireless market has been far from pretty. First, its $500-million deal with Bharat Sanchar Nigam will generate a loss of nearly $200-million when all is said and done. Now, there is a report that parts of BSNL’s network has been delayed due to problems getting equipment such as base transceiver stations and other infrastructure from Nortel. India’s Business Standard quotes Nortel vice-president Rajan Mehta as confirming the project missed its mid-2005 deadline but it is now expected to be completed within a couple months. “This is huge project, involving setting up of around 11,000 cell stations within 9 to 12 months,” he said. The BSNL contract was one of the reasons that Nortel COO Gary Daichendt decided to leave the company last June. He was against the deal while ex-CEO Bill Owens supported it.