Itanagar
Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu had informed the Legislative Assembly that his Government is giving thrust in improving digital connectivity in the state referring his meeting in Guwahati under the chairmanship of Minister IT and Telecommunications Government of India where Government of India announced to support AP including installation of 2046 mobile towers in Arunachal Pradesh with a total cost of Rs. 1793 Crores.
On the directions of Chief Minister, a meeting was held on Tuesday last under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary to review the current progress of all the digital connectivity schemes being implemented in the state. Representatives of Bharat Broadband Networks Limited (BBNL), BSNL, Railtel and Secretary IT were present in the meeting.
Progress of BharatNet which comprised of digital connectivity to all the block panchayats in the state was reviewed. Railtel informed that out of 1783 panchayats, 677 panchayats are being connected by Railtel. 407 Panchayats will be provided connectivity through VSAT by BSNL. For remaining Panchayats, BBNL has proposed to lay the optical fibre cable through the electric poles. This is expected to be completed by December 2018.
114 blocks will be connected with high speed internet connectivity form the district Hqr with 195 nodes by BBNL. Connectivity to all the districts headquarters and block headquarters will be provided by laying optical fibre through the electric poles wherever feasible. This is also expected to be completed by December 2018.
BSNL will take up a comprehensive project for strengthening of the connectivity between the districts with the state capital. It is expected that this exercise will be completed by august 2019.
Chief Secretary had directed BBNL and BSNL to complete the entire project in phase wise manner with fixed timelines for each project and directed Secretary IT to bring out a Tower Policy within 2 months with clear cut mechanism to shorten the timelines of issuance of NOC required by BSNL Authorities for installation of towers and laying of cables.
It was decided that monthly meetings will be held at the level of DCs, Secretary IT and bimonthly meeting at the level of Chief Secretary to review the progress of all the schemes being executed by Railtel, BSNL and BBNL.
