Nearly 100 Towers to be Installed in Ladakh to Improve Mobile Network Services

In order to improve mobile network services in Ladakh, nearly 100 towers would be installed in next couple of months. The Union Territory Administration also sought help from Army for quicker installation towers and OFC cable laying in bordering villages.

In the backdrop of the students and youths demanding for the quality of Mobile network, data services in Ladakh to avail online classes and even vaccination, the UT IT Secretary Saugat Biswas reviewed mobile network situation in Ladakh. There are instances of students climbing to hills, in far-flung remote villages, to catch the mobile Signals, to access online study material.

In the review meeting, IT Secretary Saugat Biswas demanded for improved services from the state operator and three other prominent private telecom service networks. Private operators assured to increase their spectrum from five to 10 MHz to improve the quality of connectivity. On the other hand, two service providers informed the Administration about installing additional 93 mobile towers. Out of which, 53 towers are under the Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF) Programme. Out of these, 24 are expected to be activated by the end of July.

Secretary Saugat Biswas advised the mobile operators to get sanctions for more towers to serve the remaining uncovered areas.
Mr Biswas informed the mobile operators that UT requested the Indian Army to expedite permissions for the laying of OFC/ erection of mobile towers in the border areas. Similarly, Mr Biswas also discussed the National Optical Fibre Network (NOFN) VSAT status of UT Ladakh.

Source: NewsonAir