Ladakh Adviser reviews broadband plan for UT

Pawan Kotwal, Adviser to the UT of Ladakh, and chairman of the state broadband committee, chaired the 6th Ladakh Broadband Committee meeting to review the implementation plan of the National Broadband Mission, according to an official statement.

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Official said during the meeting, the Adviser was briefed on various agenda items, including expedited issuance of permissions for tower erection and laying of optical fiber cable (OFC), the 4G saturation project being executed by BSNL, forest land acquisition/allocation for the USOF 4G saturation project, provision of electricity connections, rollout of 5G, etc.

The meeting also considered an advisory by the Ministry of Power on implementing a composite billing scheme for multiple connections like telecom service providers, advisory on common duct, the amended Bharat Net Programme (ABP), and MoHUA building by-laws.

Kotwal emphasised that telecom network is the backbone supporting other sectors and highlighted the critical issue of providing telecom connectivity to all villages in Ladakh. He urged telecom operators to prioritise internet connectivity in unreached areas, especially for the benefit of students in remote locations.

He also directed the implementing agencies to expedite the project and urged them to blacklist contractors who are not working as expected. For the 5G implementation plan, the Adviser asked the concerned departments to identify street furniture mapping on the Gati Shakti portal and utilise other departmental assets to aid in 5G proliferation.