The central government has launched a 50 billion project for the development of telecommunications in the northeastern states. The project will be implemented in the next five years.
The government is setting up an international Internet gateway in Akhaura (along Agartala) through Cox?s Bazar in Bangladesh. This would make Agartala the third international Internet gateway in India, after Mumbai and Chennai. The connectivity will be provided through Bangladesh under an agreement between state-run Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) and Bangladesh Submarine Cable Company. Bangladesh will allow BSNL to use 10 GB from its submarine cable at Cox’s Bazaar. As part of the arrangement, BSNL would pay Rs 72 million to Bangladesh annually for the same.
According to the Indian government, the commissioning of the international internet gateway would allow the Northeast region to have internet connectivity at par with the rest of the country.
