BSNL mobile connectivity to key border district of Anjaw restored

* Army takes over operations * Hayuliang, Swamy Camp & Khupa consumers will have to wait for some more time

OUR CORRESPONDENT

ITANAGAR: The Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) has restored the mobile connectivity to remote Chaglagam circle in Anjaw district of Arunachal Pradesh. The strategically important town bordering China, was without mobile connectivity since July this year after the VSAT developed a technical snag. BSNL Sub Divisional Officer (technical) of Anjaw and Lohit districts Onyok Tayeng informed that the VSAT at Chaglagam is functional now.

However, consumers in Hayuliang, Swamy Camp and Khupa will have to wait for some more time as the department is waiting for the green signal from the Indian Army to make the 3G services functional.

He also informed that after the BSNL technicians installed the VSAT and restored the 2G services, the Indian Army has taken over the operations of the VSAT from the Telecom giant. The official added that Army personnel and locals are now enjoying BSNL 2G services in Chaglagam, Kibithu and Wallong besides Hawai in the district.

Stating that the services could have been restored earlier, Tayeng pointed out that it, however, got delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

"We have already installed the 3G services in Hayuliang but it is yet to be launched," Tayeng said adding the department had to depend on the Army for the go ahead.

The Arunachal Pradesh government is pushing for mobile connectivity in border areas and has asked the Indian Army to share its optical fiber cable (OFC) with the Telecom department, for the benefit of the locals.

"At the State level, everything seems going smoothly but it not the case at the ground level with delay in getting approval from the top brass of the Army hampering the smooth execution of the work," a BSNL official said on condition of anonymity.

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