Demand for more mobile towers to be addressed
SHILLONG: The State government is working on a new digital policy to improve connectivity in the State. It will also address the issue of shortage of mobile towers for improved services.
DP Wahlang, Commissioner and Secretary in the IT and Communications department, said the proposed policy would elaborate clearly where mobile towers should be set up.
On the hurdles in setting up towers in the city and residents’ apprehension about radiation causing cancer, Wahlang said, “More than 25,000 studies have been conducted and till now it has not been proved that mobile tower leads to cancer.”
The IT secretary was confident that by 2018, mobile connectivity would improve with zero black out.
A draft policy will be submitted to the Chief Minister after which it will be taken before the cabinet. The government will also seek public opinion on the draft.
Wahlang pointed out that there has been no black out in mobile and internet connectivity since March “because the Agartala Gateway is functional now”. However, he admitted that connectivity in rural pockets is still a challenge.
“Realtel will lay optical fibre cable in the State and the firm will complete the job in West Jaintia Hills by March next year,” he said.
Meanwhile, the State government has decided to start around 750 common service centres (CSCs) taking the total number to 1,000.
“The good thing in Meghalaya is that the partners of CSCs did not ask for any financial support and it was a zero bid,” he said, adding that some CSCs are earning Rs 25,000-30,000 per month.
The government has partnered with B-Able to train local youths and so far 800 have been trained in the digital world and 800 more are on the list. “We want that at least one person should be digitally literate from a village,” Wahlang said.
Besides, the State government last year sanctioned Rs 1.6 crore to put solar panels in the CSCs due to power connectivity issues.
