Arunachal: Border Areas Struggle with Poor Mobile and Internet Connectivity, State Ministers and Security Forces Demand Action

The lack of reliable network coverage has caused significant disruptions in daily life, with many residents unable to make emergency calls or connect with loved ones

Erratic mobile and internet connectivity in the border areas of Arunachal Pradesh, especially in Shi Yomi district which borders China, has raised concerns among state ministers and security forces. P.D. Sona, the state minister for education, rural works department (RWD), parliamentary affairs, libraries, and tourism, expressed dissatisfaction over the unreliable service during a visit to Tato, the district headquarters of Shi Yomi. The issue has also become a significant concern for the local population.

Speaking exclusively to Northeast Live, Sona revealed that the state government had recently discussed the matter with relevant authorities in New Delhi. The government is actively working to find a solution by engaging with telecom companies to address the challenges they face in providing consistent mobile and internet services in the border regions.

“We have recently discussed the matter with the relevant authorities in New Delhi. We also need to engage with the companies to discuss the issues and problems they are facing in providing good mobile and internet connectivity. We have planned a meeting with the telecom service providers to work towards finding a solution,” Sona said.

Residents of Shi Yomi district, which borders China, have also voiced their frustrations with the services provided by BSNL and Airtel. The lack of reliable network coverage has caused significant disruptions in daily life, with many residents unable to make emergency calls or connect with loved ones.

Speaking to Northeast Live, one resident highlighted the gravity of the issue, stating, “We are experiencing significant issues with network connectivity in our area. This is causing a variety of problems for us. We are even unable to make emergency calls due to the poor network coverage. Additionally, even army personnel stationed here are unable to reach their family members who live far away due to these network issues. We are urging the government to provide us with reliable mobile and internet connectivity, comparable to that available in other areas of the state.”

The situation is equally troubling for security forces deployed in the area. ITBP personnel reported frequent disruptions in communication, making it difficult to stay in touch with their families, particularly during emergencies.

“It’s really difficult for us to call our family members because of poor connectivity. Sometimes, the network is unavailable for more than 24 hours. Airtel and BSNL both have unreliable connectivity. This makes it difficult for us to reach our family members during emergencies. It’s not just us – all the security forces stationed in the area struggle to communicate with their families due to this issue,” said an ITBP personnel.

As the state government takes steps to address the connectivity challenges, residents and security personnel hope for a swift resolution to improve communication in the region.

Also Watch: State govt concerned over erratic mobile connectivity: Arunachal Tourism Minister P. D. Sona

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