Airtel becomes first mobile operator to launch 'ultra-fast 4G' services in Andaman & Nicobar

As Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the submarine Optical Fibre Cable (OFC) connecting Chennai and Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Airtel became the first mobile operator to launch ‘Ultra-Fast 4G’ services in the union territory.

In a statement, Bharti Airtel chairman Sunil Bharti Mittal said that the fiber link will be a game changer for the region.

"The fiber link will be a game changer for the region and unlock the true potential of 4G and even 5G in future for customers," the statement read.

"We hope the Department of Telecom will accelerate the deployment of USOF for building such infrastructure backbone to complement the efforts of telecom operators to bridge the digital divide," Mittal added.

During the inauguration, PM Modi said that the role of Andaman and Nicobar Islands is very crucial and it is going to be enhanced further under India's Act-East policy.

"The Indian Ocean has been the centre of India's trade and strategic prowess for thousands of years. Now that India is following the new policy and practice of trade and cooperation in Indo-Pacific, the importance of our islands including Andaman and Nicobar has increased further," the Prime Minister said.

"Under the Act-East policy, Andaman and Nicobar's role in India's strong relations with East Asian countries and other countries associated with the sea is crucial and it is going to increase," he said.

The Prime Minister said that Andaman and Nicobar Islands are going to be developed as a hub of Port Led Development in the coming times.