Andaman and Nicobar Islands get submarine optical fibre connectivity via Chennai

Narendra Modi, the Prime Minister of India, inaugurated the submarine optical fibre cable (OFC) connecting Andaman and Nicobar to the rest of the country today, August 10. The inauguration was held via a video conference. The new OFC connectivity is an extension from Chennai. The submarine cable will also connect Port Blair to Havelock, Little Andaman, Car Nicobar, Kamorta, Great Nicobar, Long Island and Rangat.

The Foundation stone for the same had been laid back in December 2018 at Port Blair. The ambitious project is funded by the Department of Telecom and BSNL is overseeing the implementation part. It laid around 2,300-km long undersea internet cable between Chennai and Andaman and the Nicobar Islands.

This network will boost the digital connectivity of the islands with the mainland and increase internet connection to nearly three to four times the existing capacity. Earlier Andaman and the Nicobar Islands had a very slow internet connection via satellites, which led to improper functioning of internet as well as cellular voice calls. Although the project was scheduled to be completed by March and inaugurated by June.

The ongoing pandemic has shown us the importance of an internet connection. Getting virtually connected will surely improve the quality of life and help in the development of the area.

“Inauguration of the submarine Optical Fibre Cable in Andaman and Nicobar Islands ensures: High-speed broadband connectivity, fast and reliable mobile and landline telecom services, a big boost to the local economy, delivery of e-governance, telemedicine and tele-education,” PM Modi said in the inaugural statement.