Excelsior Correspondent/PTI
NEW DELHI, Sep 17: Telecom companies today said they have restored 80 per cent of their network in the flood-hit Kashmir valley.
Aircel, the biggest telecom operator in the state with over 22 lakh mobile customers, said 80 per cent of its network has been restored, a company spokesperson said.
State-owned BSNL said most of its network has been restored and is now working to provide connectivity in areas where there is no coverage.
“Most of our network has been restored. We are now trying to connect to connect Kulgam and improve coverage in Srinagar main city area by tomorrow,” BSNL Chairman and Managing Director AN Rai said.
He said that BSNL exchange in Srinagar still has about 5 feet water around it and services will be completely restored after water recedes.
BSNL has subscriber base of over 12.5 lakh in the state.
Vodafone said more than 50 per cent of its network has been restored in Kashmir.
“Challenges such as the non-access to sites because of flooding are being dealt with by our team members… The equipment which got submerged under water had to be replaced,” a Vodafone spokesperson said.
Vodafone is third largest mobile operator in the State with subscriber base of over 8 lakh.
Reliance Communications spokesperson said that through its roaming arrangements with other operators, a majority of company’s subscribers are now able to access services across the state
“RCom BTS’ (mobile tower) in most critically-hit areas are now up and running in the Kashmir Valley, including in the worst-hit South Kashmir area. RCom’s own network is now operational at nearly 140 sites in the Valley,” RCom spokesperson said.
In a statement, mobile tower company GTL Infrastructure said that its 450 mobile tower have been affected in J&K due to incessant rains and heavy floods.
“J&K accounts for approximately 2.9 per cent of combined tower portfolio of the company together with Chennai Network Infrastructure Limited (CNIL). Over 450 towers on a combined basis have been affected,” GTL Infrastructure said.
Our Jammu correspondent adds: The telecom company, Airtel has claimed to fully restore connectivity in North Kashmir and all flood affected areas of Jammu and Leh region.
In a release issued here today the company also claimed that connectivity in critical areas in Srinagar City has also been restored. Besides, North Kashmir, we have also fully restored connectivity in Apple Town-Sopore, Selu, Herban, Wadoora, Younsoo, Zanipora, Tujarsharief and adjacent areas, the release said.
“We continue to contribute with our efforts to drive quick restorations across impacted regions. Special initiatives have been undertaken to help all impacted, especially those stranded at various relief camps”, the release said adding, “We are distributing free SIMs with a talktime credit of 50 minutes in Srinagar, Poonch, Rajouri and Surankote areas and about 4000 such SIMs have been given out so far. Besides, Airtel PCOs with free calling facility have been placed at various locations across the State, especially at the relief camps in Srinagar, Poonch and Rajouri districts to help people connect with their loved ones”, the release said.
Moreover, Phone charging stations have been placed at various sites especially those at the severely impacted areas enabling more and more people to activate their handsets and connect with their loved ones.
With support from DoT and Indian Air Force, 5 VSAT terminals with WiFi equipment were flown into Srinagar. Airtel has thereafter set up a public WiFi Hotspot – thus allowing everyone to use data services (like Whatsapp and email messaging) to reach out to their friends and family.
With these initiatives, networks in North Kashmir have been fully restored and connectivity in Apple Town – Sopore, Selu, Herban, Wadoora, Younsoo, Zanipora, Tujarsharief and adjacent areas resumed.
Trending Now
E-Paper
Follow our WhatsApp channel