Ganesh & Gracy Tripathy
Port Blair, September 2: The prime provider of internet services in these far flung Island of Baratang is BSNL, which seems to have failed miserably during this COVID-19 pandemic situation to provide atleast a reliable service.
As per the information received, the residents of Baratang Island are suffering due to poor network and connectivity issues. While on one hand, the OFC submarine cable project was successfully launched, on the other hand issues of poor BSNL connectivity are still being raised in Andaman.
Studies are conducted online since outbreak of Coronavirus pandemic all across the world. However, when it is a constant effort to be digital, the students of Baratang island are lacking behind in this digital race. Students are unable to complete even the smallest tasks online due to the slowest internet speed.
It is reported that areas like Jarawa Creek, Baludera, Lograchang, Rajatgarh, Rafter Creek, Khattakhari, Bolcha, Lorrojig, Flatbay do not even have proper signal strength.
It is reported that in emergency situations villagers can’t even contact the emergency numbers let alone accessing online portals. When contacted a senior BSNL officer, he told Andaman Sheekha that the power supply for the equipments to work properly is not sufficient along with several logistic regressions.
When further asked about the places where there is no network coverage, he said that no support is received from the higher ends for this moreover he further informed that even when OFC submarine cable was launched there was no support in the distribution of the benefits alongside with distribution in the spectrum of 4G connection as well.
Therefore lastly it was said that, more support is needed from the DOT and more spectrum from the government of India. It was assured that work is in progress and to hope for better results in coming days.
