Public sector telecommunications consultant TCIL has imposed a two-year blacklist on global technology major Cisco, effectively barring the company from participating in any future tenders floated by the PSU. The decisive action follows serious allegations of unfair business practices that allegedly compromised the integrity of a government bidding process.

Allegations Against Cisco

TCIL has accused Cisco of engaging in unfair, illegal and monopolistic practices that adversely impacted a recent government bidding process. According to the PSU, Cisco deliberately sabotaged its bid for a tender floated by the Karnataka government by introducing last-minute conditions and creating artificial hurdles designed to undermine TCIL's participation.

The allegations suggest these actions were strategically aimed at securing unlawful commercial gains for Cisco, raising serious concerns about fair competition in government procurement processes.

Karnataka KSWAN Project Controversy

The dispute centers around tender reference CEG/2025-26/IND0043 and its subsequent re-issue, which has drawn criticism over alleged manipulation of the bidding process. The controversy relates to the Karnataka State Wide Area Network (KSWAN) project, a critical initiative designed to provide secure and reliable network connectivity across government offices throughout the state.

Bidding Process Timeline

The Centre for e-Governance (CeG) initially framed the Request for Proposal (RFP) to support a multi-OEM architecture and conventional routing-based network design, aligning with established industry standards. The original tender floated on July 11, 2025, attracted significant interest from major players in the telecommunications sector.

Tender Cancellation and Re-issue

Despite receiving three competitive bids, authorities reportedly opened only the pre-qualification documents before cancelling the entire tender, citing 'improper' submissions. This decision raised eyebrows within the industry, particularly given the participation of established telecommunications companies.

Following the cancellation, CeG constituted a technical committee that claimed the earlier specifications were 'outdated'. The committee's recommendations led to the issuance of a revised tender on December 8, 2025. Critics have alleged that this process created a de facto single-vendor scenario, potentially undermining the competitive bidding process that government procurement rules are designed to ensure.

Industry Impact

The blacklisting of a major technology provider like Cisco by a public sector entity represents a significant development in India's telecommunications procurement landscape. The two-year ban will prevent Cisco from participating in TCIL tenders during this period, potentially affecting the company's business prospects in the public sector telecommunications segment. The controversy also highlights ongoing challenges in ensuring fair and transparent bidding processes in government technology procurement.

PTC Industries Limited has announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Aerolloy Technologies Limited, secured a significant development and supply order from Blue Origin for large superalloy investment castings. The order specifically involves manufacturing and supplying components for Blue Origin's New Glenn BE-4 engines, marking another milestone in the company's aerospace manufacturing capabilities.

Recent Financial Performance

The company's Q2 results presented a mixed picture, with profitability declining despite revenue growth. Key financial highlights include:

Despite higher revenue and EBITDA figures, the company's profitability declined compared to the same period in the previous year, indicating potential margin pressures or increased operational costs.

Strategic Order Wins

PTC Industries has been actively expanding its aerospace and defence portfolio through strategic order acquisitions. Recent major wins include:

ISRO-Linked Contract

On January 7, 2026, the company received an order from Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre for a specialized titanium processing project:

Defence Sector Expansion

In August 2025, PTC Industries secured a substantial defence-related contract from BrahMos Aerospace valued at over ₹100 crore for titanium castings supply.

Market Performance

PTC Industries Limited's share price closed at ₹17,550 on the NSE on January 9, 2026, declining by ₹17 or 0.10%. The recent developments reflect the company's continued focus on aerospace-linked manufacturing orders and expansion within India's space and defence sectors.

Industry Positioning

The Blue Origin order represents PTC Industries' growing presence in the international aerospace market, complementing its domestic contracts with ISRO and BrahMos Aerospace. The company's subsidiary Aerolloy Technologies appears to be the primary vehicle for advanced aerospace casting operations, positioning the group as a key player in both domestic and international space industry supply chains.