The Telecom Consultants of India (TCIL) has stated that the detailed project report (DPR) for laying 2,200 km of submarine cable from mainland to Andaman and Nicobar Islands is likely to be finalised soon. The tendering process is also likely to be conducted soon.
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Last year, the Planning Commission has approved a program to set up a dedicated telecom network to facilitate secure, reliable and high-speed communications services for naval bases at the strategically located Andaman and Nicobar Islands. While TCIL is the consultant to the project, the Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF) will bear the entire implementation cost.
The project is estimated to cost Rs 6 billion, and is expected to be completed in two to three years. In phase I of the project, 1,500 km of subsea cable from Chennai enroute Port Blair will be laid while in phase II, an additional 700 km of the optic fibre would be taken further to the archipelago.
Currently, these islands have connectivity to the mainland only through the satellite network, which has a limited capacity.
