SHILLONG: In the midst of complaints that mobile connectivity in rural areas of the State is pathetic, the BSNL has claimed that it has not been getting land to install 15 mobile towers in rural areas in view of the peculiar land tenure system of Meghalaya.
Another problem that comes in the way of better mobile connectivity is the irregular supply of electricity in the rural areas in the absence of which the mobile towers are unable to function. Addressing a press conference here on Wednesday, BSNL NE-1 Circle CGM, K.K. Saxena, asserted that BSNL has plans for expansion of mobile connectivity in rural areas of the State, and added that the government was giving all support to the BSNL. In its bid to improve mobile connectivity in rural areas, the BSNL is now planning to hike its investment, the BSNL official informed. Allaying fears, he said the villagers have an apprehension that mobile towers emit harmful radiations which is absolutely untrue. Meanwhile, he informed that BSNL NE-1 Circle has earned Rs 145 crore as revenue for the year 2015-16 (up to January, 2016).
Stating that 1.99 lakh mobile connections were provided to BSNL customers of Meghalaya, 1.63 lakh in Mizoram and 3.07 lakh connections in Tripura, he added that in Meghalaya 245 2G and 123 3G mobile towers are presently functioning.
According to Saxena, as many as 202 exchanges are functional in the NE-1 Circle of which 66 are in Meghalaya, 86 in Tripura and 50 in Mizoram.
