Shillong: Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited is pushing into the hills of Meghalaya. The state-run giant wants to fix the spotty service plaguing remote regions. The Meghalaya government is helping clear hurdles like bad power grids and rugged terrain. C. Lalhmachhuana, the Principal General Manager for the BSNL NE-1 Circle, confirmed the shift. He noted that the company now relies on local supply chains.
"BSNL is a state-owned corporation, and the government of India is trying to strengthen the network through indigenous products. All the equipment we are deploying now is made in India," Lalhmachhuana said. The firm is currently upgrading 4G systems that are ready for a future 5G shift.
The BharatNet project forms the backbone of this expansion. It aims to link all 55 Community and Rural Development blocks with optical fibre. Speeds will hit up to 1 Gbps. Crews have already started work in five blocks, while surveys continue for the rest. This two-year project also includes ten years of maintenance. The goal is to move beyond unreliable satellite and wireless links to solid fibre lines.
BSNL is also taking on border zones that private firms ignore. They have already brought nine Border Security Force outposts online, with 18 more on the schedule. Lalhmachhuana remains optimistic about the company’s future position in the market. He admitted that BSNL still has "a long way to go" before they fully catch up to private competitors.
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