TRAI Recommends Plan To Connect Andaman & Nicobar Islands And Lakshadweep
TRAI Recommends Plan To Connect Andaman & Nicobar Islands And Lakshadweep
Telecom regulatory body has recommended an initial Rs. 2400 crore for connecting Andaman & Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep with strong telecom networks that currently rely on connectivity through satellites. The Authority has recommended an investment of Rs.2277.87 crore or Rs. 1772.91 crore for ANI and Rs. 504.96 crore for Lakshadweep as per the statement issued by TRAI to the media.
The regulator has also made the recommendations that apart from connecting the regions with cables there will also be retention of satellite connectivity in both parts of the Uts.
29 of the 576 islands in Andaman & Nicobar are inhabited. Around 90% of the population lives in 3 islands. In the other UT Lakshadweep, 11 of the 36 islands are inhabited while 10 of these islands have more than 100 people living on them. Connectivity is definitely a problem as communication networks need to be developed in these regions.
In Andaman & Nicobar Islands, the regulator has suggested connecting 22 islands. This includes 18 islands with population of more than 100 people Around 4 additional islands have thriving tourism. In Lakshadweep, connectivity has been factored at 10 islands which are inhabited.
The Andaman & Nicobar Islands will be part of the West Bengal service area while Lakshadweep is part of the Kerala circle. Services have been launched in ANI by BSNL as well as Reliance. Vodafone and current market leader Airtel are also operating here. Airtel along with BSNL is also operating services in Lakshwadeep.
There are 8 telecom operators in the rest of West Bengal and Kerala. Telecom service providers that have rolled out the network in these islands provide services only on main islands. They laos offer connections in the capital and district headquarter.
Apart from connecting ANI and Lakshadweep TRAI has also stipulated that satellite connectivity is to be retained in parts of the UT. The regulator has also suggested that apart from a one-time infrastructure cost the Department of Telecom or Administration of both ANI and Lakshadweep will pay Rs. 130.4 crore and this includes Rs.104.16 for ANI as well as Rs. 26.24 for Lakshadweep on an annual basis. This will be the viability gap funding for hiring satellite bandwidth and operational cost.
TRAI has indicated that this policy may be reviewed after a period of 5 years. The government is also working to connect ANI with a submarine cable from Tamil Nadu's capital city Chennai. Another important recommendation is that the government should create a South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation submarine cable at a cost of about Rs. 600 crore to connect ANI from Kolkata as a backup in case of damage to the Chennai cable. The regulator also seeks to provide the SAARC cable to neighbouring nations such as Nepal and Bhutan.
