Towers installation delay along India-Pakistan border a security concern
Move to install towers along the border seen as an attempt to counter incoming signals from Pakistan and Bangladesh
Jaipur: The delay in setting up mobile towers along the India-Pakistan border areas to streamline mobile network in border areas is causing security concern.
The Indian department of telecom (DoT) has taken a policy decision to permit mobile towers within 500 metres of international borders, but the Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL), the nationally owned telecom company, is yet to set up the tower.
The department has modified its norms according to which installation of towers within 10 km of the international border was not allowed. The move is seen as an attempt to counter incoming signals from neighbouring Pakistan and Bangladesh.
However, India's minister for state for telecommunication Sachin Pilot had said that the DoT changed the norms as it was observed that signal from other countries were entering borders areas in North-East, Rajasthan and Gujarat.
Once the towers were set up within 500 metres of the border, the move will improve signal strength in the border areas, ,which is important for security.
Pakistani SIM cards have been seen as potential security problems in the border districts of Rajasthan. Large scale use of the Pakistani mobile companies SIM by Pakistani citizens on a visit to Rajasthan forced the district administrations of the four border districts Barmer, Jaisalmer, Bikaner and Ganganagar to put a ban on the use of Pakistan SIMs.
Large number of travelers from Pakistan and from India, who travel by the Thar Express, the train that runs between the two countries in the desert bring Pakistan SIMs and use it illegally as signals of Pakistan's mobile companies are easily available in all the four districts.
The recent arrest of an ISI agent Esmail Khan from Karanpur in Ganganagar district revealed that the agent was not only using Pakistani SIM to pass on the information to the ISI, but was also using a satellite phone, laptop and computers to pass on the information using the internet.
"If a person has Pakistani SIM, he can easily use the SIM for establishing contacts in Pakistan from all the four districts as accessing signals of Pak mobile companies is easy. Pakistan's Sadiqganj, Fakirwali, Fort Abbas and Harnabad are very close to Sriganganagar. In these areas Pak mobile companies - Telenor, PK Mobilelink and three other companies have set up towers. Similarly in Bikaner the signals of mobile towers of a Pakistani telecom company could be easily accesses," said Rupinder Singh, police superintendent.
"Passengers traveling in Thar Express from Pakistan and India bring these SIMs and use it frequently without getting noticed. Large numbers of such passengers stay with their relations in the four districts and use the SIM cards to speak to their family members in Pakistan, mostly in the Sindh province.They even manage to recharge it by asking their relations to pay the recharge fees to the Pakistani mobile companies Even Indian travelers returning after a visit to Pakistan bring in SIM cards of Pak companies and use it illegally," said Rupinder Singh.
Now Indian mobile operators can install their towers within the zero line. As supply of electricity is scant in the sparsely located areas on the borders, a few mobile towers will be run by solar plants.
BSNL, which is a government undertaking, will provide connectivity through Digital Satellite Phone Terminal (DGPT). The BSNL will make 70 such satellite telephones to the Border Security Force personnel.
DoT launched ‘Rakshak' two months ago in Jaisalmer which is a scheme offering a facility for paramilitary personnel (Border Security Force) to stay connected with their families in any part of the country without spending on call charges. By paying a nominal monthly amount, soldiers will get two SIM cards. Calls between the SIM cards will be free.
