Tarun Karthick
Port Blair, 22 August 2023
Despite the advent of the 5G era and the transformative Chennai – Andaman and Nicobar Islands Submarine Optical Fiber Cable (CANI Submarine OFC), some islands in the archipelago continue to grapple with outdated connectivity challenges. Notably, Katchal Island, nestled within the Nicobar Group, is currently facing significant struggles in establishing even basic voice calls over a 2G network.
The CANI Submarine OFC has brought about a telecom revolution across most islands of the archipelago, granting them access to high-speed broadband and mobile data. However, Katchal Island remains an exception, struggling to keep up with essential telecommunication services, as it has not been connected with CANI.
According to local reports, residents of Katchal Island have been grappling with frequent call interruptions during both incoming and outgoing calls. The issue has persisted for the past month, with the situation worsening as the island remains disconnected from the telecom advancements experienced by neighbouring islands.
Recently, efforts were made to upgrade the island’s BSNL network from 2G to 3G. However, this upgrade has not translated into improved services for the residents, as the 3G network has faced consistent downtime since its implementation.
These connectivity problems have resulted in significant hardships for the island’s population, impacting communication and daily life.
Even the broadband service on Katchal Island is far from stable. It relies on a Microwave Link originating from Vikas Nagar Village in Nancowry. Unfortunately, power interruptions in Vikas Nagar Village often lead to broadband disconnections on Katchal Island.
Residents have expressed frustration over the lack of prompt resolution to these issues. They have highlighted that the Junior Telecom Officer rarely visits Katchal Island to address connectivity concerns. Surprisingly, the entirety of BSNL Katchal’s responsibilities seems to rest upon the shoulders of a security guard.
Local villagers are now urging BSNL to address these faults in the mobile network on Katchal Island and provide a reliable power backup for the Vikas Nagar Village Tower. A continuous power supply is seen as essential to ensure 24×7 broadband access on the island.
As the rest of the archipelago enjoys the benefits of enhanced connectivity, the struggles faced by Katchal Island underscore the need for equitable and consistent telecommunication services across all the islands of Andaman and Nicobar.