Centre exploring innovations to improve telecom services in NE: MoS Communication

Kohima: Union Minister of State for Communication Devusinh Chauhan assured that the ministry was working on ways to resolve the telecom issues in the Northeast region. The MoS is visiting Nagaland.

The MoS on Saturday said the region is very dear to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who hoped to bring the government to the doorstep of the people and that the region is the first priority of the Centre.

Stating that the Ministry of Communication is one of the oldest departments and also the youngest in terms of usage of new technologies, he said, “If connectivity reaches the last mile, democracy has reached the last mile.”

With the COVID-19 pandemic that has led to a paradigm shift, the MoS said that there was no sector which is not using online means for its operation.

“Nagaland is a shining example in terms of teledensity, which is highest among the North Eastern states,” he said, adding that it is the vision of the Centre to bring telecommunication connectivity to all villages for which a lot of work has already been done in this area.

“Though implementation has been delayed due to the pandemic, it is now
expected that it will be expedited,” he said, adding that there was no no dearth of funds.

Meanwhile, Mmhonlumo Kikon, adviser to the department of IT, science & Technology, NRE, emphasized on the growing need for more bandwidth to support the growth in cellular telephony.

“Improving connectivity is an essential condition for reducing the physical and social distance among the people of the region. It is also essential for enhancing employment and livelihood opportunities, expanding trade and commerce, promoting eco-tourism, tapping the potential for horticulture and floriculture, and improving people’s access to better health and education,” he said.

The legislator also urged the need to expand the access network to reach up to everyone’s door-steps, especially in remote areas, which, according to him, is urgent and imperative to strengthen the core backbone simultaneously.

Kikon also urged the MoS to intervene in improving the quality of telecom service in Nagaland, particularly in rural areas.

Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio took to Twitter and said, “Shri Devusinh Chauhan @devusinh, Hon’ble MoS for Communications, called on me. I wish him a fruitful time and a pleasant stay in Nagaland.”

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