TRAI suggests Rs.2,400-cr plan for Andaman and Nicobar, Lakshadweep island chains

While bulk of the investment will be for Andaman and Nicobar Islands, the telecom regulator estimates an outgo of Rs.504.96 crore for Lakshadweep.

TRAI on Tuesday recommended an investment plan of Rs 1,895 crore for telephone infrastructure in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands. The plan calls for connecting 22 islands, including 18 islands with a population of above 100 and four islands having the presence of police, forest camps and tourists. File photo shows an aerial view of Port Blair, capital of the Andaman and Nicobar islands.

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), in keeping with its drive to create a conducive environment for the business and improve connectivity, on Tuesday recommended a Rs.2,400-crore project to connect India’s two major outlying island chains — Andaman & Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep — with stable and strong cable-based networks to replace the satellite mode of transmission.

The move is expected to encourage more operators to run services in these island chains. At the same time, the regulator has recommended the retention of the satellite option. While bulk of the investment will be for Andaman & Nicobar Islands, the telecom regulator estimates an outgo of Rs.504.96 crore for Lakshadweep.

“Even BSNL is not keen to expand its network to all the inhabited islands and villages because these operations are commercially unviable,’’ noted TRAI.

Projecting the remaining amount for Andaman & Nicobar Islands, TRAI has suggested connecting 22 islands, which included 18 islands with a population of above 100 and four islands which have the presence of police, forest camps and tourists. Only 29 out of 576 islands in Andaman & Nicobar Islands are inhabited and 90 per cent of the population lives on just three islands — North, Middle and South Andaman Islands.

Part of the West Bengal service area, four telecom operators — BSNL, Vodafone, Airtel and Reliance —- have launched services here, whereas double the number of operators have services in West Bengal.

For Lakshadweep, TRAI has projected connectivity in ten inhabited villages. Here, 11 out of 36 islands are inhabited. Lakshadweep is part of the Kerala circle and only two operators — BSNL and Airtel operate services — as against eight in mainland Kerala.

While in the rest of West Bengal and Kerala service areas, there are eight telecom operators.

TRAI noted that telecom service providers present in the two island chains restrict their services to the capital, district headquarter and bigger islands.

Meanwhile, industry analysts pointed out that the market had endorsed the TRAI’s recommendations for sharing of all telecom spectrum.