State-run service provider Bharat Sanchar Nigam (BSNL) will be setting up at least 10 towers along the Indo-Bangla border in Meghalaya to improve its network.
While launching the third generation (3G) mobile services in Shillong on Saturday, Chief General Manager of NE I Telecom Circle, Vinod Kumar said earlier there was a restriction by the Union Home Ministry to set up towers within 10 km from the international border.
Now the restriction has been reduced to only 500m. The new towers are likely to be erected within a year, he said.
Most people use the services of Bangla Grameen Mobile Company near border areas because of poor service of BSNL. However, of late, some of the trading hubs along Indo-Bangla border areas of Meghalaya - Dawki, Shella, Mahendraganj and Baghmara - have been brought under BSNL's network.
Officials say inaccessible terrain and poor infrastructure has slowed down the expansion work. BSNL authorities had earlier admitted that Bangladesh telephone network had taken advantage of the situation and anti-social elements were also using their network.
