How India Connected Mainland to Andaman Nicobar Island with Fiber Optic
The Indian government laid out undersea cable to the distant location of the nation where it was not possible earlier. Under the ambitious Aatmanirbhar Bharat scheme the government has laid down under sea fiber optic cable from Chennai to Andaman Nicobar. The length of the undersea cable is approx. 2300 km.
Laying out an undersea cable is a very expensive affair. How Indian government achieved this expense. It was achieved by AGR (Adjusted Gross Revenue). AGR is the tax which all the telecom companies have to pay to the government, 5% of their total revenue.
Amount collected via AGR was allocated to BSNL to execute the project and lay out cable between Chennai and Andaman Nicobar. It's one of the really big achievements for the National Telecom carrier as the Global leading Global companies were in the race of the the tender. However government preferred the local supplier under Aatmnirbhar Bharat scheme and gave the tender to BSNL. This is for the first time that the government gives the tender to a Indian company for under sea fiber optic cable.
How this connectivity benefits the nation and Andaman Nicobar.
It helps to tackle China as real time data will be available from Andaman and Nicobar Island.
It will improve tourism in Andaman Nicobar.
All the three security forces army Navy and Airforce have there station in Andaman Nicobar. It will improve their communication with the mainland India.
Reference: