Following a previous announcement that it will re-invite bids for nine million GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) lines after Nokia Siemens Networks' refusal to participate in the project, BSNL (Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited) recently announced that it has selected Canada-based Nortel to carry on its GSM and NGN (Next Generation Network) expansion project, The Economic Times of India reported.

According to the same report, value of the deal is estimated to top US$100 million, instead of US$900 million as previously reported. Nine million GSM lines are currently under construction by Nortel and are slated for completion by year-end 2008, with coverage concentrating in southern India.

The number of mobile phone lines originally planned to be shared between Nokia and Ericsson has been reduced from 45 million to 22 million, The Hindu Business Line reported. Of BNSL's 22 million mobile phone lines, Ericsson is in charge of the construction for the remaining 13.5 million lines.