NEW DELHI: Domestic
telecom equipment makers have asked the government to extend the scope of the public procurement order, notified in June 2017, to allow them price preference over multinationals.
“We are asking the government to implement preferential rules in the Universal Service Obligation Fund-driven BharatNet-II programme and Smart City projects where states have formed special purpose vehicles under general financial rules,” Shyamal Ghosh, former telecom secretary and chairman of
Telecom Exports Promotion Council (TEPC), told ET.
The council represents the likes of Tejas Networks,
Sterlite Technologies, Vihaan Networks and Himachal Futuristic Communications.
TEPC said local companies were not signatories to the
World Trade Organization procurement agreement and had asked for preference in state-funded projects.
Preferential guidelines, according to the group, changed the narrative and domestic players would start deriving benefits from it.