After Kashmir, BSNL’s satellite-based phone service has been introduced at three border outposts (BOPs) of the security forces.
After Kashmir, BSNL’s satellite-based phone service has been introduced at three border outposts (BOPs) of the security forces in inhospitable and uninhabited Great Rann of Kutch, constituting Indo-Pak border in the Kutch-Sindh sector. Started on April 16, the service is available at a token cost of Re1 per call per minute.
The BSF jawans, who man the border in peace time, are happy at this reliable facility to talk to their families anywhere in the country. Earlier, jawans had to depend on mobile phones, but they were not of much use as no signals from mobile towers could reach them as the BSNL followed the guidelines of the Union home ministry.
“When this was brought to our notice, we thought of installing satellite phones. The cost of a satellite-based phone call comes to Rs49, but we would be charging only Re1, with the excess being borne by us as subsidy. We consider this as our corporate social responsibility,” S Kabra, area manager, Gandhidham, told DNA on Tuesday.
BSNL sources said credit for the service goes to new general manager of Kutch circle, Ravi Bhargav, who, on joining here on April 14, gave the go- ahead to start the service from April 16.
“At present, we have installed three satellite phones at remote BOPs in the Rann. They are within easy reach of other BOPs. The jawans from other BOPs would have to travel five to ten km, instead of coming all the way to Dharmashala, 60 km away from the border,” he said, adding that since satellite phones were costly, it could not be provided at all BOPs. He, however, said that two more satellite phones would be provided in Rapar area, one for the BSF and one for the Army.
Talking of new services for civilian population, Bhargav said that ‘Wimax’ broadband service has been introduced in Gandhidham area. This was a wireless broadband service. Gradually, the service would be extended to the entire port and industrial area of Kutch, he added.
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