“Big Day For Andaman, Nicobar”: PM On Submarine Cable To Boost Network

New Delhi : Prime Minister Narendra Modi this morning inaugurated a 2,300 km undersea high-speed broadband project in Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The submarine Optical Fibre Cable or OFC link – connecting Chennai and Port Blair – will boost network speed and enable delivery of more reliable mobile and landline telecom services to Andaman and Nicobar Islands, a popular tourist destination.

The project will give a major boost to tourism, PM Modi said, calling it a “big day” for the union territory. The Prime Minister also said it was an “early Independence Day gift”.

“A pandemic such as coronavirus was not able to hinder our speed and the work was completed before time. It was the responsibility of the nation to provide people of Andaman and Nicobar with connectivity. This is an early gift for the people of Andaman and Nicobar on Independence Day,” PM Modi said this morning while inaugurating the project via video conferencing.

The Chennai-Andaman and Nicobar Islands submarine OFC project, which began about two years ago (in December 2018), is said to be a first-of-its-kind service in India. It is expected to give a boost to tourism, businesses, jobs, living standards, telemedicine, e-commerce and digital education.

Call drops have been frequent in the islands so far and internet connectivity speeds have been low and unreliable. The broadband speed, with this project, is expected to become ten times faster.

Laying 2,300 km cable under sea and that too, before schedule, while also maintaining the quality of cable is a commendable job. This is not an easy project,” the Prime Minister said.

“In 12 islands of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, high-impact projects are being expanded. A major issue of mobile and internet connectivity has been solved today, and we’re working towards solving road, air and water connectivity. Better internet connectivity is one of the first needs of any tourism hub. This problem has now been solved,” he added.