Sterlite Optical Technologies has received a contract from BSNL for manufacture and supply of 20 to 2000 copper telecom cables. These cables would be used to enhance BSNL’s Pan-India network to provide basic telephony and broadband services.

The contract is valued at INR 1.43 Billion ($ 36 Million) and supplies would be completed within FY 2007-08.

The Ministry of Telecommunication, India has declared the Year 2007 as the ‘Year of Broadband’ and has resolved to make broadband in India further affordable and enable subscribers enter the Information Superhighway.

Broadband services have sparked off a fresh wave in demand for wireline connectivity with telecom incumbents in India opting to launch broadband services using the ‘ADSL 2+’ technology, which has given copper cables a fresh lease of life. The copper cables are used for the last mile wiring for landline phones while fiber optic cables are used up to the junction box.

According to K S Rao, CMO - Telecom, “The Ministry of Communication has a target of connecting 20 million broadband subscribers by 2010. We are grateful to BSNL for enabling us to provide infrastructure that is the lifeline for broadband and therein be a key contributor to India’s broadband vision.”