New Delhi: After a border dispute with China sparked a military conflict last year, India has focused not only on improving and enhancing roads along its border with China, but also on enhancing mobile connectivity. India is rapidly working to build and expand mobile phone and internet connectivity in eastern Ladakh. Forge connectivity will be available in most rural areas of the Damchok area of eastern Ladakh by the end of this year. The network connectivity project with LAC's Damchok and Chushul region is very important in the wake of the border dispute with China. A team of officials traveled to Damchok in mid-September to review the network towers built along the Line of Actual Control. In addition, fiber optic laying work is underway in remote areas. A large number of sites have been set up to provide mobile connectivity to soldiers in remote areas. Before this the only option was a satellite phone. Construction of 3 mobile towers is underway in Ladakh. In the last two years, about 50 towers have been approved under the Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF). The purpose behind it is to provide good connectivity not only to the armed forces but also to the local people. Areas like Janskar, Sanku, Shargol, Nyoma, Nubra, Khalsi, Kharu, Dras have also been connected by mobile towers. The fiber optic network in Ladakh is connected to Leh-Srinagar, Leh-Manali and Leh-Gurez road. The Leh-Gurez network will be up and running by the end of October.
