By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: To improve cellular connectivity along the Indo-Bangla border, the BSNL now plans to lay optical fibres along the border areas.
The move comes after repeated complaints over the years by villagers and others about the poor reach of Indian cellular networks compared to the Bangladeshi ones in the areas.
BSNL General Manager, George S Marshall recently told The Shillong Times that the BSF too has given its nod to the project which is expected to improve connectivity.
Earlier, even the Union Minister of State (MoS) for Communication and Information Technology, Sachin Pilot, had admitted that the cellular network of neighboring countries is posing a security risk to the country.
The statement assumed significance in view of the fact that the Indian cellular companies do not have sufficient network coverage in the border areas while Bangladeshi cellular network is accessible even inside Indian territory.
According to the BSNL official, the optical fibres along the roads though have to be safeguarded since they get damaged due to various road construction works being carried out in the state from time to time.
When asked about the connectivity in border and rural areas, the official asserted that the BSNL has as many as three hundred towers in the rural areas of the state and it plans to install more to improve the connectivity.
The Centre also has a plan under consideration for improving connectivity in the region, the official said, adding that BSNL plans a capital expenditure of Rs 347 crore in the region this year.
“Rs 92.18 crore is earmarked for Assam, while Rs 33.86 crore has been earmarked for NE-1 circle comprising Meghalaya, Manipur and Tripura,” the official added.
It may be mentioned that there was a restriction earlier put by the Union Home Ministry on setting-up towers within 10 km from the international border and this may have been a reason for poor connectivity along the border areas.
However, few years back, the restriction had been reduced to 500 metres in order to improve connectivity and network coverage in the border areas.
