The BSNL has been approached seeking adequate mobile connectivity on the Indo-Bangla border in Meghalya, according to Chief Minister D D Lapang.
Lapang discussed problems of mobile connectivity, broadband connections and telephony in the border areas at a meeting with senior BSNL officials here last evening, officials said.
"The BSNL is putting up an additional 143 towers, mostly in border areas to ensure universal coverage of mobile connectivity," they said.
Another 104 towers were also being put up by KEC International, one of the largest power transmission engineering, procurement and construction companies in the world, under the Universal Services Obligation (USO) Fund, they said. On poor mobile connectivity, the BSNL officials told the chief minister that since 3G upgradation and change of the switching system from Nortel to Ericsson were taking place, there would be some disturbance for some time.
All district headquarters in the state except Williamnagar have been connected by broadband.
The connectivity at Williamnagar would be finalized by December, 2009.
BSNL has also assured that all blocks, sub-divisions and district headquarters would be connected through 2 MBPS leased lines so that the governments State Wide Area Network would be in place at the earliest.
Lapang said during his visit to New Delhi a couple of days ago, he met Telecom Secretary P J Thomas and discussed the issue of BSNL connectivity.
Thomas assured him of support in setting up BSNL towers in border areas, Lapang said.
Most people used the services of Bangla Grameen Mobile Company Ltd near border areas because of poor service of BSNL. However, of late, some trading hubs on the Indo-Bangla border areas of Meghalaya - Dawki, Shella, Mahendraganj and Baghmara - have been brought under BSNL's network.
Inaccessible terrain and poor infrastructure have slowed down the expansion work, the officials said.
BSNL authorities admitted that Bangladesh telephone network had taken advantage of the situation and anti-social elements were also using the network.
