Tarun Karthick
Campbell Bay, 06 Aug 2021
Great Nicobar with a population of 8000+ is served by just one 4G BTS of BSNL located at Campbell Bay. All other BTS of BSNL located at different locations in Great Nicobar is 2G BTS which provides very limited internet connectivity to the customers.
During this time of COVID-19 when schools have remained closed for more than one and a half years, internet has become a very important tool for the students to continue their studies and keep themselves updated.
The students of Great Nicobar face problems each day to receive their study material over the internet and many students travel to Campbell Bay from remote villages located 30+ km away to download their study material. The problem is grave and the students are demanding better internet connectivity in their villages immediately.
Most of the villages in Campbell Bay have been connected through the Fibre to Home Broadband Service of BSNL which is being implemented through private cable operators. The majority of students from the remote villages of Great Nicobar cannot afford to install FTTH Broadband connection at their homes. The installation cost for FTTH Broadband connection is very high and further, the recurring expense of the monthly bill is beyond the reach of the majority of the population.
Internet connectivity has become a basic necessity today and affordable internet connectivity is the key to opening doors of knowledge for society. People achieve amazing things when they are introduced to the internet. There are many instances where rural farmers have taken advantage of the internet and have transformed their lives. Many students from the remotest parts of India when introduced to the internet have achieved remarkable feats.
Providing affordable internet has become as important as providing basic amenities like electricity and water. Internet is an equaliser, it helps reduce the gap between the rich and the poor.
Recently the Chief Secretary of Andaman and Nicobar Islands Mr. Jitendra Narain visited North and Middle Andaman District. During his visit to North and Middle Andaman District the Chief Secretary ordered that the students of rural panchayats where internet connectivity is poor should be provided with Internet by the Panchayat. The same was implemented within days at some panchayats where students and the general public were provided with free internet through Wi-Fi Hotspots.
The Wi-Fi hotspot services provided by the Panchayats in North and Middle Andaman District is being appreciated by all sections of the society.
Free Wi-Fi hotspot in different remote villages is also the need of the hour in Great Nicobar Island. Nicobar Times has learnt that the demand for free Wi-Fi hotspots were also raised by the general public during Gram Sabha Meeting of one of the panchayats.
All the three panchayats of Great Nicobar should start free Wi-Fi Internet services in their villages. Further in Great Nicobar the Panchayats will have to provide free Wi-Fi hotspots in several locations because of the scattered population and the large area which falls under two of the three panchayats. Laxmi Nagar Gram Panchayat of Great Nicobar is spread over the entire North-South Road spanning over 30 Kms, whereas the Govind Nagar Panchayat spans for about 10 Kms on East-West Road.
At Laxmi Nagar Gram Panchayat free Wi-Fi Hotspots will have to be provided at four locations i.e Joginder Nagar Village, Laxmi Nagar Village, Gandhi Nagar Village and Shastri Nagar Village.
At Govind Nagar Gram Panchayat, free Wi-Fi Hotspots will have to be provided at about two locations at 1 Km and at Community Hall near Permanent Tsunami Shelter.
At Campbell Bay Panchayat the residents are demanding free Wi-Fi hotspots in at least two locations i.e Recreation Hall, Kamal Basthi and Community Hall, Campbell Bay.
Free Wi-Fi hotspots have become a necessity in Great Nicobar because of the unavailability of decent mobile data services in various BTS of BSNL on the Island.