NEW DELHI: Army troops deployed in high-altitude posts in Ladakh along the frontiers with China and Pakistan, as also civilians staying in remote border villages in the region, now have access to reliable 4G and 5G mobile connectivity for the first time.
“In the transformative step towards bridging the digital divide and empowering remote communities, the Army has facilitated unprecedented mobile connectivity across high-altitude areas, including forward locations in eastern and western Ladakh as well as the Siachen Glacier region,” an officer said on Saturday.
This mobile connectivity extends to troops deployed in extremely inhospitable terrains in areas like Galwan, Daulat Beg Oldie (DBO), Chumar, Batalik and Dras. “It’s a major morale booster for soldiers serving in isolated posts, which are cut-off in winters, at altitudes above 18,000 feet, allowing them to stay connected with their families and loved ones,” he said.
The Galwan Valley was the site of the bloody skirmish between India and China on June 15, 2020, in which 20 Indian soldiers laid down their lives while fighting the numerically superior Chinese troops armed with nail-studded rods and other sharp weapons.
The strategically-located DBO, which includes an advance landing ground (ALG), in turn, overlooks the Karakoram Pass and is just a few km from the Line of Actual Control and the China-occupied Aksai Chin region beyond.
The mobile connectivity initiative has been made possible through a collaborative approach under “the whole-of-govt framework”, with the Army leveraging its robust optical fibre cable infrastructure and partnering with telecom service providers and the Ladakh administration, the officer said.
The Leh-based 14 Corps, also called the `Fire and Fury’ formation, has played the key role in enabling this synergy, resulting in the installation of multiple mobile towers on Army infrastructure. This includes four key towers in the Ladakh and Kargil districts as well as the successful installation of a 5G mobile tower in the Siachen Glacier.
“The impact of this initiative extends far beyond troop welfare. It is a significant nation-building endeavour that is transforming the socio-economic fabric of remote border villages,” he said.
“By integrating ‘First Villages’ into the national digital network, this effort is boosting local economies and border tourism, while enhancing medical aid and emergency services, enabling educational access and arresting migration from the border villages,” he added.
“In the transformative step towards bridging the digital divide and empowering remote communities, the Army has facilitated unprecedented mobile connectivity across high-altitude areas, including forward locations in eastern and western Ladakh as well as the Siachen Glacier region,” an officer said on Saturday.
This mobile connectivity extends to troops deployed in extremely inhospitable terrains in areas like Galwan, Daulat Beg Oldie (DBO), Chumar, Batalik and Dras. “It’s a major morale booster for soldiers serving in isolated posts, which are cut-off in winters, at altitudes above 18,000 feet, allowing them to stay connected with their families and loved ones,” he said.
The Galwan Valley was the site of the bloody skirmish between India and China on June 15, 2020, in which 20 Indian soldiers laid down their lives while fighting the numerically superior Chinese troops armed with nail-studded rods and other sharp weapons.
The strategically-located DBO, which includes an advance landing ground (ALG), in turn, overlooks the Karakoram Pass and is just a few km from the Line of Actual Control and the China-occupied Aksai Chin region beyond.
The mobile connectivity initiative has been made possible through a collaborative approach under “the whole-of-govt framework”, with the Army leveraging its robust optical fibre cable infrastructure and partnering with telecom service providers and the Ladakh administration, the officer said.
The Leh-based 14 Corps, also called the `Fire and Fury’ formation, has played the key role in enabling this synergy, resulting in the installation of multiple mobile towers on Army infrastructure. This includes four key towers in the Ladakh and Kargil districts as well as the successful installation of a 5G mobile tower in the Siachen Glacier.
“The impact of this initiative extends far beyond troop welfare. It is a significant nation-building endeavour that is transforming the socio-economic fabric of remote border villages,” he said.
“By integrating ‘First Villages’ into the national digital network, this effort is boosting local economies and border tourism, while enhancing medical aid and emergency services, enabling educational access and arresting migration from the border villages,” he added.
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