Sarthak Kanjilal
Port Blair, Dec 19: The Member of Parliament of Andaman and Nicobar Islands today informed through a press release that the Telecom Commission has accorded “in principle approval” for comprehensive Telecom Development Plan for the Islands for improving telecom services with a total estimated investment of Rs 194.93 crores. This includes 82.44 crores for augmentation of satellite connectivity and bandwidth and 20 crore for Intra Island OFC network.
“The total bandwidth between mainland and the islands has been augmented by 50 MBPS since 12-06-2014. Further BSNL has already placed request for two transponders with Thaicom-7 through ISRO and additional six transponders with ISRO in GSAT. It is proposed to cover 181 villages out of 204 uncovered villages of the Islands with 2G mobile connectivity in the first phase. TCIL has been asked to prepare the DPR for provision of 2 G (voice) connectivity in the uncovered villages and along the NH 223,” the release added.
The Minister of Communication & IT, Mr. Ravi Shankar Prasad through a D. O letter dated 12.12.2014 has informed the above developments to the Lt. Governor of A & N Islands and also to the Member of Parliament.
It has been further informed that DPR based on desktop survey for OFC cable connectivity from Chennai to Port Blair is expected to submit by 15th February, 2015.
The Minister has further assured for exploring all possible efforts for expeditious augmentation of telecom connectivity, both within the island as well as with mainland.
