DoT decides to extend cellular service along Indo-Bangla border

Shillong, Feb 15 (UNI) Centre has decided to extend mobile networks in the villages bordering Bangladesh and will invest Rs 500 crore on mobile technology in the region, Departmet of Telecommunication (DoT) Secretary announced here today.

Secretary in-charge of the Ministry of Telecommunication D S Mathur said the DoT would extend its cellular phone services to all the villages on the border areas.

Earlier, the Union Ministry of Home and Defence has barred signals of mobile phone networks along the Indo-Bangla border to prevent villagers from aiding trans-border criminals and militant activities.

''We have decided to relax the restriction on mobile coverage after a threadbare discussion with senior government officials, security agencies and private mobile operators here,'' Mr Mathur said.

The Union Government's decision to extend the mobile networks in the villages bordering Bangladesh assumed significance in the backdrop of the MPs of North East raising their serious concern over the availability of Bangladesh mobile signals in absence of any telecom service provider along the Indo-Bangla border.

The MPs said the use of Bangladesh mobile service by the militant groups inside Indian territory is a major security threat and a matter of a serious concern for the nation.

In recent years, Meghalaya police had seized a number of Bangladesh Grameen SIM cards from arrested militants operating in the state.

The Secretary of DoT said the package include layer of fibre optics and supplement the services with optical rings and use of power grid networks and satellite media.

Efforts are on to improve the tele-density in the region, which is only 11 per cent at present compared to 17 per cent average national capacity, Mr Mathur said.

UNI