In an attempt to serve locals and tourists on Batal-Losar-Kaza in the high-altitude "No-Man’s Land" in the state of Himachal Pradesh, India's National telecom backbone Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) geared up to launch Mobile services through satellite connectivity at different spots on these stretches to facilitate the communication needs in the snowbound region.
According to the BSNL's statement, the satellite phone and Mobile connectivity will also come to aid of tourists, locals, including migratory shepherds who get stranded in the snowbound area during freak snowfall from time to time, but without any connection with the outside world.
BSNL will be the first telecom operators to offer the communication services in this snowbound region. Earlier BSNL also launched GSM Mobile Services in SIACHEN, AMARNATH and Himachal Pradesh’s remote Miyar Valley as we shared on TelecomTalk.
BSNL also start similar service to residents at Losar, a remotest village in Spiti on the Keylong Kaza road located at the base of the 15,000-ft-high Kunjam Pass and Batal located other side of Pass in the Lahaul valley in the Himalayan region.
Mr. Rakesh Kapur, CGMT, BSNL Himachal Pradesh circle said, “BSNL will start satellite phone connectivity to people living in the remote Himalayan region. We have set up PCO at Batal and are launching the service in July at Losar and Nithar in Lahaul-Spiti district”.
It is significant to share that In 2009, over 1000 tourists, locals and laborers traveling between Keylong and Spiti and between Keylong and Leh remained stranded for days in snowfall as the rescue teams could not establish any link with them.
