Indian Army brings 4G connectivity to Ladakh's remote villages

As part of the ‘vibrant villages’ programme to create facilities in remote areas, the Indian Army and telecom providers, in a joint effort, have provided 4G mobile network in Kargil, Siachen, Demchok, Daulat Baig Oldie and Galwan, all located Ladakh.

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The Indian Army’s Leh headquartered 14 Corps on Thursday said the border areas and remote villages in Ladakh were devoid of 4G mobile connectivity until June 24.

It added: “The Indian Army in collaboration with Bharti Airtel set out to ensure connectivity."

The 14 Corps engaged all the telecom service providers and assisted them in installation of mobile towers in theses remote areas in sub- zero temperatures.

A total of 42 Airtel 4G mobile towers have been installed in five months covering the remote locations of Kargil, Siachen, Demchok, DBO and Galwan providing high-speed connectivity to the populace as well as soldiers serving in Ladakh.

This initiative would boost tourism in the state and help the local community by improving access to online education, remote healthcare and fostering economic opportunities through government schemes bridging the existing digital divide.

India launched the ‘Vibrant Villages Programme’ along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) to create additional infrastructure matching China’s aggressive approach of creating new villages called ‘Xiaokang’ on its side.

Infrastructure in several villages in Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, eastern Ladakh, Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim have been upgraded or are in the process under the mega Rs 4,800 crore project that for the first three years would cover 662 villages.

In all, the government has identified 2,963 villages to be upgraded over 10 years.