BSNL ties up with PGCL, OIL to check network interruption

Guwahati, May 17 (UNI) In order to check interruption in network in the wake of damage or theft of optical fibres, the BSNL has made arrangements with Powergrid Corporation Limited (PGCL) and Oil India Limited (OIL) for alternate transmission medium.

BSNL, Asom Circle, Chief General Manager G Rajaram told newsmen here that OIL had agreed to provide fibres from Nagaon in central Asom to Maikunjbihar in West Bengal, to be used as alternate transmission medium.

''The optical fibres will run along the OIL pipelines. And as they run through the countryside, they have very less chances of damage or even theft. Once our cables are damaged, we can use the OIL fibres as alternate mediums of transmission, '' Mr Rajaram said.

The new plan for leasing of bandwidth and fibres from other agencies would avoid prolonged disruption of services.

The PGCL was already providing alternate medium in various places of upper Asom.

He said the broadening of the highways by the National Highway Authority of India had caused damages to telecom fibres in Asom.

Besides, the BSNL had lodged more than a 100 FIRs relating to sabotage of its fibres in the state in the past six months.

To reduce disruption of services due to optical cable breakdown, the BSNL had also planned rearrangement of optical fibre cables and systems to increase reliability.

Regular coordination with NHAI and the state government had also been done to reduce cable damage and sabotage.

Of late, BSNL had been facing rebuke for its failure to provide efficient services in the state.

Mr Rajaram stated that the interruptions in electricity supply was a cause for the disruption of telecom service.

UNI