ITANAGAR, June 18: Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein held a videoconference from here on Thursday with officers of the Indian Army’s 2 Mountain Division and state BSNL General Manager Arung Siram regarding sharing optical fibre cables (OFC) in the remote areas of the state to facilitate 3G internet services for administrative convenience.
Saying that the remote areas of the state are facing difficulties in surface communication as well as with internet services due to the difficult terrains, the DCM opined that “if the Indian Army and the BSNL work in close coordination, this network problem can be improved to a great extent.”
He commended the army and the BSNL for coming to an agreeable solution for sharing OFCs and extending 3G internet services to Hailong, Walong, Chaglagham, Hawai and Kibithoo in Anjaw district, Anini in Dibang Valley, and Mechuka in Shi-Yomi district.
“It will greatly help the district administrations and the government departments that need digital services in time of emergency, as well as for updating their digital data,” Mein said.
He said the state government would provide all possible support to the Indian Army and the BSNL for the purpose, and also thanked Governor BD Mishra “for his initiative in this regard.”
2 Mountain Division GOC (HQ), Maj Gen Sanjiv Chauhan said “the Indian Army is always here to help the people of the state and is ready to provide rural network communication in difficult areas.”
He said that in case of emergencies during the Covid-19 pandemic, “the civil administration can use the army’s VSAT for communication.”
Maj Gen Chouhan also informed that, besides sharing OFCs for extending 3G services to Namsai, Lohit and Anjaw districts, the facility will also be extended to Dibang Valley, Changlang, Longding and Tirap districts.
Siram informed that “there is smooth coordination between the Indian Army and the BSNL in maintaining the OFC network in remote areas of the state.” He said that “as soon as the OFC is shared by the Indian Army, the BSNL will commission 3G services.”
Commissioner to Governor, Ravindra Singh Yadav and 2 Mountain Division Commanding Officer, Col Milan Patnaik also attended the videoconference. (DCM’s PR Cell)
