NEW DELHI: The Indian Army, known for its role in defending borders and assisting in relief operations during natural disasters, has taken on an additional responsibility in Ladakh. Beyond their security duties, the Army has played a pivotal role in bringing mobile connectivity to the forward villages of the region.
Since 2017, the Army has partnered with locals and telecom providers to establish optical fiber links in three remote villages of the Chushul constituency under the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC). This unique civil-military collaboration has been instrumental in overcoming the challenges of providing telecom services in such isolated areas, where the sparse population and rugged terrain make it economically unviable for operators to lay optic-fiber cables.
The initiative, spearheaded by LAHDC representative Konchok Stanzin, has seen contributions from all stakeholders. Stanzin used his Constituency Development Fund to help construct power supply systems, the Army provided optical fiber links, and telecom operators installed mobile towers. One of the latest beneficiaries of this effort is Phobrang, a village 158 kilometers east of Leh, which recently saw the launch of Airtel’s 4G service. This village serves as a gateway to key military locations like Gogra and Hot Springs near Pangong Lake.
“This achievement showcases the power of collective efforts and underscores the importance of connecting even the most remote parts of our country to the digital world,” Stanzin said during the inauguration of the new mobile service.
Stanzin funded a solar power plant for the project, while local villagers contributed by building a battery bank to ensure 24/7 power supply. The Army laid a 5-kilometer optical fiber cable to connect the village’s mobile tower, provided by Airtel. This collaboration is not the first of its kind—similar efforts have brought BSNL’s 2G service to Merak, a village facing the Finger areas of Pangong Lake, and to Kargyam along the road connecting Chushul to Tangtse.
The introduction of 4G mobile connectivity in Phobrang will benefit local graziers during the harsh winter months and is expected to boost tourism in the region. Additionally, forward areas like Chushul, Demchok, and Nyoma, which have recently opened up for tourism, now enjoy 4G services from private operators, supported by the Universal Service Obligation (USO) Fund.
