PM Modi inaugurates first-ever optical fibre project for Andaman and Nicobar Islands

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday (August 10) inaugurated the first-ever undersea optical fibre project for Andaman and Nicobar Islands which will provide highspeed broadband connections in the Union Territory at par with services in the mainland.

On December 30, 2018, Modi had laid the foundation for the 2,312-km-long submarine optical fibre cable project connecting Chennai-Andaman and Nicobar Islands (CANI).

“From Chennai to Port Blair, Port Blair to Little Andaman and Port Blair to Swaraj Dweep, this service has started in large part of Andaman Nicobar from today,” Modi said after inaugurating the project.

The project has been implemented at a cost of ₹1,224 crore. Besides, Port Blair, it will connect other islands namely Swaraj Dweep (Havlock), Long Island, Rangat, Little Andaman, Kamorta, Car Nicobar and Greater Nicobar.

The prime minister said that it is the responsibility of the nation to provide modern telecom connectivity to the people of Andaman and Nicobar Islands. All telecom operators in the country will be able to provide their mobile and broadband services using the CANI optical fibre link.

“The optical fibre connectivity project to connect Andaman and Nicobar with the rest of the country and the world is a symbol of our commitment towards ease of living,” Modi said.

According to official data, internet with speed of 400 gigabyte (Gb) per second will be provided at Port Blair and for other islands it will be 200 Gb per second. Undersea cable linking Andaman Islands with Chennai was laid before time, Modi said while inaugurating the cable link. The work of laying undersea cable has been executed by BSNL in a record time of less than 24 months. This project will give a boost to 4G mobile services and digital services like tele-education, tele-health, e-governance services and tourism on the islands.