March 27: Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd will install 100 more base trans-receiver stations in Nagaon, Morigaon and Karbi Anglong districts by the end of this year to boost network connectivity and increase its reach.
A BSNL source said today that the new stations would cover the remotest areas of the three districts.
The public sector telecom company launched mobile phone services in Nagaon, Morigaon and Karbi Anglong in January 2004, while other private service providers have entered the market only recently.
Starting with only 1,000 post-paid subscribers, BSNL has steadily increased its presence in central Assam over the years. Its subscriber strength touched the 1.8-lakh mark last month.
“By the end of this month, we will be installing two new BTSs in Diphu town and one each in Kanchanjuri, Dolamora and Shivthan. Our 3G system for those willing to subscribe to general packet radio services (GPRS) will be introduced next April,” the source said.
He said work on the East-West Corridor was hampering BSNL’s expansion plans and damaging its network of cables. “We are planning an alternative route to circumvent the problem. Providing connections to people in remote areas is difficult, but we are trying our best.”
BSNL has 101 rural telephone exchanges in the three districts with as many as 46,000 landline subscribers.
“We are installing wireless in local loop (WiLL) stations in remote areas where installation of a landline telephone exchange or a mobile BTS is not possible.
“Till February, we have established 31 WiLL stations, especially in the hilly areas of Karbi Anglong. We now have more than 700 WiLL subscribers in the three districts,” the source said.
Two WiLL stations will be commissioned at Bhuragaon and Salona in Morigaon and Nagaon districts.
The Nagaon unit of BSNL hit the headlines after police in Karbi Anglong and North Cachar Hills districts found rebels of the Dima Halam Daogah’s Jewel Gorlosa faction carrying SIM cards that were issued from its office.
As many as 400 such SIM cards were issued mainly from Lanka, Lumding and Hojai subdivisions of the Nagaon unit of BSNL.
Sources in the North Cachar Hills police said an inter-district gang was behind the racket.
“Since pre-paid connections are not provided by BSNL in North Cachar Hills, the gangs procure these from neighbouring Nagaon and sell them at a high price,” one of them said.
