BSNL plans 95 towers in 6 months
Economic Times, Kolkata
Tuesday, April 25, 2006
| “BSNL is planning to set up another 95 towers in the next
six months to meet the growing demand in J&K,” said Vineet
Sirpaul, vice president (business development), Nutek. |
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| Nutek, subcontractor for Nokia and Ericsson, is setting up the BSNL
network in the region. |
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| According to industry sources, Bharti Tele-Ventures has around 300
sites in J&K while Dishnet Wireless, offering GSM mobile telephony
under the Aircel brand name — recently acquired by Malaysian
company Maxis — has 190 cell sites. Besides BSNL, Bharti —
operating under the Airtel brand name — is also providing services
in Leh. |
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| It has set up the highest GSM mobile tower in India, at 11,645 feet,
at Qutak Gompa in the Leh region. Bharti plans to double the number
of cell sites by the end of the year. Sources said Hutchison Essar
is also keen to enter J&K. |
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| However, putting up telecom infrastructure in these areas is not
an easy task. “We could put up an antennae and other equipment
only at night in militancy-prone areas like Rajouri and Poonch. Firing
during daytime prevented any work and even at night, labourers have
to stop work often due to security risks,” said an official
at a telco. |
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| Risks notwithstanding, residents are keen to own cellphones. “The
waiting list for BSNL mobile connections in border villages of J&K
is running into thousands. When residents come to know a mobile tower
is being set up, they come to help officials in the hope of getting
faster connections,” the official said. |
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