Army brings optical fiber connectivity to 2 villages near Pangong Tso in 7 days

Villages Merak and Khakted on the southern bank of Pangong Tso were connected to their first mobile network from state-owned telecom service provider Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited on March 1. 

Delivering a boost to the existing civil-military bonhomie in the Ladakh region, the Indian Army has laid Optical Fiber Cable for a mobile network in the border villages of Ladakh within seven days.
 

The job was taken up after Chushul councillor Konchok Stanzin made a proposal before Leh-based XIV Corps commander Lt Gen PGK Menon. 
 

Villages Merak and Khakted on the southern bank of Pangong Tso were connected to their first mobile network from state-owned telecom service provider Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited on March 1. 
 

Talking to Asianet Newsable, Chushul Councillor Konchok Stanzin said, "The network is set up in my constituency from Chushul to Merak which is around 25 km in distance. BSNL provided the equipment, the Army lay the OFC, the battery banks were arranged in the villages while I provided the solar power plant from my Constituency Development Fund."

Without the Army's support, this work would not have been completed. 
 

"A week ago, we made our proposal to Menon Saab (Lt Gen PGK Menon). He straightaway gave his approval and within seven days the work was completed."
 

The new 2G network will also connect the Indian Army's Dhansingh Thapa post and rear posts too as well as ITBP's Thakung post in the northern bank of Pangong Tso.
 

In the wake of the border standoff with China in eastern Ladakh, the government had planned to strengthen telecom connectivity in Ladakh and Jammu and Kashmir. As per the reports, there were 87 uncovered villages in Jammu and Kashmir while 57 in Ladakh needed access to telecom connectivity. 

In an effort that the communication flow remains intact, the government wanted to have 100 per cent telecom coverage.