According to an official release, the selection was made on the recommendation of an inter-ministerial task force comprising representatives of the ministries of communications, finance, law, justice and company, the Prime Minister's Office and railways.

A total of 23 consultants have submitted their proposals. The consultancy assignment includes preparing a business plan covering market feasibility study, project cost and means of financing. The release adds, the consultancy assignment includes preparing a technical plan covering capacity and quality of network, network roll-out requirements, location of repeters taking into consideration Railway's requirement of providing train control and other communication needs. Legal and regulatory issues would require to be examined, besides developing the management structure of the corporation.

The consultants would also require to estimate business valuation and potential of IR's existing optic fibre cable on microwave network.