Guwahati, Jun 17 : Leading telecom operator Bharti Airtel on Wednesday said it has set up infrastructure across 30 Indian Army stations in difficult terrain in Arunachal Pradesh to make available uninterrupted connectivity.
The Indian Army had joined hands with Airtel for last-mile connectivity in border and difficult-to-reach locations of the Himalayan state, the company said in a statement.
“As part of the initiative, Airtel deployed network infrastructure across 30 Army stations located in challenging mountainous terrain,” it added.
The deployment significantly enhanced voice and data connectivity in areas where access has historically remained limited due to geographical and infrastructure constraints, Airtel said.
“This achievement was made possible through strong collaboration between Airtel and the Indian Army. The Army extended extensive logistical support throughout the project, including assistance for fiber deployment and power infrastructure,” it added.
The company further said that in several locations where road access was not possible, the Indian Army provided the necessary assistance and logistics support to move Airtel technical teams and telecommunication equipment deep into the mountains.
“The successful completion of Phase 1 has now paved the way for the next chapter. Encouraged by the impact of the project, the Indian Army and Airtel have agreed to undertake Phase 2, under which network sites will be built across 15 additional locations in Arunachal Pradesh,” it added.
The first phase of the strategic initiative was completed in partnership with the 4 Corps of the Indian Army, headquartered at Assam’s Tezpur, Airtel said.
Commenting on the development, Bharti Airtel CEO (North East and Assam) Balaji R said: “This initiative reflects Airtel’s continued commitment to extending connectivity to some of the country’s most difficult terrains.
“The rollout required extensive coordination between Airtel teams and local support units to overcome immense terrain and weather-related challenges.”
The company teams operated under demanding high-altitude conditions and adverse weather to ensure timely and secure network activation, Balaji said.
“We are deeply grateful to the Indian Army for their unparalleled logistical support, which made it possible to bring digital connectivity to these frontier regions,” he added. (PTI)
