AGARTALA, July 29 (TIWN): Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) has recently taken up the issue of improving connectivity along the bordering areas of the state with the Union Ministry level assuming that as many as towers would be set up in the bordering areas to get rid of the ongoing network problem. “We have initiated the process to install BTS (Base Tower Stations) along the borders with Bangladesh, Bhutan and Myanmar to improve mobile phone network connectivity in the bordering areas,” said top official of BSNL.

To bring an anonymous change to the current network problems in the bordering areas, BSNL has taken up fresh initiatives to install at least 450 BTS towers, the official said.

Referring to poor signal in the border areas, CGM NE-I Circle D. P. Singh who was recently appointed as Advisor of Central Telecom Commission said that the issue has been taken up to the Union Ministry level. Once the Centre shows ‘thumbs up’, many towers would be set up in the bordering areas to get rid of the problem.

He said that once the approval comes from the ministry, BSNL would take up the next initiative to install the BTS towers at the bordering areas of the state. The issue has been raised especially for the security personnel deployed there, so that they could make hassle-free communications with their family members,” Singh said.

The state owned Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd. (PGCIL) would provide technical support to BSNL to make the connectivity along the border successful.

Besides, BSNL had also assured to intensify the telecom connectivity in the northeastern in view of which BSNL had been sanctioned Rs. 5, 336 crore for development in respect of the telecommunication service in the region.

About Rs 1, 900 crore to be spent for improvement of telecom connectivity in Arunachal Pradesh and Assam. Another Rs. 2, 800 crore for other north eastern states, Rs. 270 crore would be required to intensify the coverage in the national highways of the NE states and Rs. 300 crore for the transmission media, Singh said.

BSNL is augmenting its mobile network by installing additional 14,421 2G mobile sites and 10,605 3G sites with an estimated investment of Rs 4,804 crores.

 BSNL has also improved its revenue collection to Rs 4.9 crores compared to previous years despite of having a total amount of Rs 84 crore outstanding dues with customers in Meghalaya, Mizoram and Tripura.