Patna: Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) is strengthening its mobile network across nine districts of Bihar, particularly in areas affected by difficult terrain, dense forests and limited road connectivity. The initiative includes upgrading 250 mobile sites to 4G to improve telecommunications services in remote parts of the state.
The districts covered under the initiative are Arwal, Aurangabad, Gaya, Jehanabad, Nawada, Rohtas, Jamui, Kaimur and Banka. Many of these areas have historically faced connectivity challenges and have also been identified as Left Wing Extremism (LWE)-affected regions.
Jamui Has Highest Number of Sites
According to BSNL officials, Jamui has the highest number of sites, with 59 mobile sites included in the network strengthening initiative.
BSNL General Manager (CM) Ali Ehtesham said connectivity in several of these areas remained weak when Left Wing Extremism was more prevalent. Many locations had primarily 2G connectivity, which allowed basic voice calls but offered limited access to high-speed internet and digital services.
Better Connectivity for Security and Administration
The 4G upgrade is expected to improve both call quality and internet speeds in these areas. Faster connectivity could help security forces with real-time information sharing and improve coordination during emergency situations.
Government departments and local administrations are also expected to benefit from more reliable communication networks, while residents in remote areas will gain better access to digital services.
BSNL Identifies 144 Network Black Spots
BSNL has also identified more than 144 locations across different districts where mobile connectivity from telecom service providers was unavailable.
Of these, 90 sites across six districts have already been provided with 4G connectivity, while work on another 54 sites is expected to begin soon.
The expansion is expected to benefit more than five lakh people, particularly those living in remote and previously underserved locations.
What Is Digital Bharat Nidhi?
The Digital Bharat Nidhi (DBN) is a government fund aimed at expanding telecommunications services in rural, remote and underserved parts of India. The fund also supports research and development, pilot projects and the introduction of new technologies in the telecom sector.
The BSNL network expansion in Bihar is expected to strengthen digital connectivity in some of the state’s most difficult-to-reach areas while supporting public services, emergency communication and everyday mobile and internet access.
