Internet will reach every house in Northeast soon: Anupam Shrivastava

In keeping with the area's terrain and its peculiar challenges, BSNL is opting for tie-ups with the Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (PGCIL) for optical fibres. Besides, MoUs with Bangladesh to develop services in the whole region are also being worked

The telecom sector is fast making inroads into Northeast India, driving growth in the remote and isolated region. The government service provider, BSNL, is planning to invest Rs 300 crore in the Seven Sisters in the coming financial year after already making developments worth Rs 150 crore in 2014-15 and over Rs 90 crore in 2013-14.

Also, in keeping with the area's terrain and its peculiar challenges, BSNL is opting for tie-ups with the Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (PGCIL) for optical fibres. Besides, MoUs with Bangladesh to develop services in the whole region are also being worked out. Anupam Shrivastava, CMD BSNL, shared these initiatives of his company at the Mail Today Northeast Rising Conclave on Wednesday.
Shrivastava took over as the chairman and managing director of the telecom major earlier this year and under him, BSNL has registered a revenue rise of 13-14%, the highest in the last five years. Shrivastava-who early on in his career worked in Guwahati, Manipur and Meghalaya- shared the challenges that the telecom sector faces in the Northeast. "The terrain is undoubtedly very difficult. It is mostly forested and 90-95% on the path of international borders. However, the typical challenges also present unique solutions," he said.

"We have realised that optical fibres laid through the ground are not the best solution. Instead, clubbing them with overhead electrical lines is much better. Therefore, we have tied up with the Power Grid Corporation of India Limited. 810 GB capacity of Internet will be transmitted through PGCIL. Dialogue is on with Bangladesh as well for lines to be laid through Cox Bazaar. We're sure Internet will reach every household in the region soon," he added.
Shrivastava also spoke on the difficulties of conducting a commercially viable telecom business in NE: "The private players can still wind up and move to profit-generating areas but BSNL has to distribute its resources equally." On being queried on the problem of call drops, he said: "I actually believe the problem of call drops in the Northeast is much lesser than the rest of the country. BSNL has invested a total of Rs 225 crore in NE and we are building infrastructure in Arunachal and Assam. The next generation of technology and equipment has been employed. The region will reap the benefits very well in time."

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