NEW DELHI: Homegrown telecom gear maker Tejas Networks has bagged a Rs 696 crore pan-India router network deal from state-run telco, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL).

“We hereby inform you that Tejas Networks Limited has received an Advance Purchase Order of Rs 696 crore from BSNL for the upgradation of its Pan-India IP-MPLS based Access and Aggregation Network (MAAN) using its state-of-the-art routers,” said Tejas in a regulatory filing Monday.

Tejas will supply, install and commission over 13,000 of its TJ1400 series of next-generation access and aggregation routers for realizing a converged multi-service packet network, being rolled out on a nationwide basis, as per the filing.

The telecom gear maker expects initial supplies and deployment of the equipment to be completed within next 18 months.

“The company won this order while competing against top-tier global vendors in an open tender, after being technically shortlisted and upon submitting the lowest commercial bid,” it said.

“Mr. Nayak would step down from his role as CEO and MD by the next Annual General Meeting of the company. The Board of Directors has considered his request and accepted the same. The Board placed on record their appreciation for the contribution made by Mr. Sanjay Nayak, during his tenure as CEO and MD of the Company,” Tejas Networks said in the filing.

“We are delighted to win this prestigious contract which is the single largest order we have received till date in our company. We look forward to partnering with BSNL to create a unified, flexible and scalable IP/MPLS network that will cater to growing data traffic from its full-range of services, including mobile (2G/3G/4G/5G), fiber broadband, Voice over IP, WiFi and enterprise data services,” said Sanjay Nayak, Managing Director and CEO of Tejas Networks. “This win further reinforces our position as a leading telecom and networking equipment vendor capable of designing and delivering complex, high-availability mission critical networks. It also catapults us into the global service provider switching and routing segment, which requires products that have high technological complexity and significant R&D capabilities,” said Arnob Roy, COO and Executive Director of Tejas Networks.