Agartala, September 26:
West Tripura Lok Sabha MP Biplab Kumar Deb has urged BSNL to expand its telecom infrastructure in Tripura’s border and hilly areas, pointing to significant gaps in domestic mobile coverage and seeking clarity over the pace of 5G rollout in the state.
Deb raised the concerns during a Telecom Advisory Committee (TAC) meeting held at the BSNL headquarters at Kaman Chowmuhani in Agartala. The meeting reviewed issues relating to network infrastructure, customer services, expansion plans and employment generation.
Drawing attention to the situation along the international border, Deb said there are stretches where Indian SIM cards do not receive network coverage for nearly 10 kilometres. At the same time, he said, signals from mobile networks in Bangladesh can reportedly be detected up to 15 kilometres inside Indian territory.
He said the situation creates communication difficulties for residents of border villages and could also affect the work of security agencies in sensitive areas. Strong domestic telecom coverage, he added, is necessary to ensure reliable communication and facilitate access to call records and other data required during investigations.
Deb therefore called for greater deployment of BSNL towers along the border. He said improved network infrastructure would serve the communication needs of local residents while strengthening the telecom support available to agencies working in border areas.
The MP said Tripura’s long international boundary, coupled with its hilly and remote terrain, required a focused approach to telecom expansion. Areas with weak or absent domestic coverage, he said, should receive particular attention.
Several issues raised during previous TAC meetings were also reviewed. Deb said the discussions covered the status of BSNL infrastructure, customer service, employment opportunities and network expansion. The latest meeting was intended to assess the progress made on these matters and determine which issues should be taken up with the central government.
5G services formed another key part of the discussion. Deb acknowledged that BSNL has made substantial progress in extending 4G connectivity across Tripura but questioned whether 5G expansion was keeping pace with expectations.
He sought an explanation from officials regarding the present status of 5G services, particularly their speed and geographical reach. Deb said the issue would be formally raised to understand the reasons for the slower expansion and the measures proposed to improve 5G coverage in the state.
He also recalled the international roaming restrictions that had previously been enforced in parts of the Northeast amid insurgency-related concerns. According to Deb, the restrictions were later withdrawn, although implementation took some time, and the situation has subsequently improved.
Rajya Sabha MP Rajib Bhattacharjee and senior BSNL officials were present at the TAC meeting, which also discussed existing infrastructure gaps and possible measures to improve telecom services across Tripura.
The discussions have highlighted the continuing need for reliable telecom connectivity in the state’s remote border and hill regions. Along with improving everyday communication for residents, Deb stressed that stronger domestic network infrastructure is important for meeting the requirements of strategically sensitive areas.
