Global telecom gear MNCs urge govt to change norms, seek level field

Global telecom equipment vendors have urged the government to make sweeping changes to the method of calculating value addition norms, so that they are eligible for government contracts under the public procurement policy for the Preference to Make in India (PMI) scheme.

The scheme mandates preference for domestic products in public-funded projects. The letter, sent to the DoT a few days ago through the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) is critical for two reasons. Without a change in value addition norms, global vendors such as Nokia, Ericsson, and Samsung will not be able to participate in the upcoming RFP for 4G equipment to be bought by BSNL and MTNL.