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Home Ministry seeks ways to ease telecom curbs on N-E
The Access Services Cell in DoT has prepared a note that would be soon placed before the Telecom Commission before it is sent to MHA, reports M Rajendran.
The Ministry of Home Affairs has asked the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) to recommend ways to ease security restrictions imposed on the issue of mobile phone connections in the North-East.
As part of the efforts to develop telecommunications and mobile telephony in the interior areas of North-East, the home ministry wants to review the stringent measures imposed on the issue of connections. The Access Services Cell in DoT has prepared a note that would be soon placed before the Telecom Commission before it is sent to MHA.
Due to security-related apprehensions special subscriber verification procedures for pre-paid mobile connections have been introduced in Assam, other north-easern states and Jammu and Kashmir. Pre-paid mobile subscribers of these services areas are not allowed to enjoy roaming facilities outside their service areas.
Demands to allow roaming facilities to pre-paid mobile connections in the North-East and Assam have turned shrill over the past few months.
Currently, mobile services within a no service zone of 500 metres along international border are not permitted. Service providers are also not allowed to install base stations/cell sites within 10 kilometres of the Line of Control and some sectors in Jammu and Kashmir.
A DoT notification issued last March said that there shall be a “No Service Zone” of 500 metres along the International Border for wireless/ mobile services.
In order to keep a check on the operators, DoT or its representatives including security agencies were authorized to carry out surprise checks to ensure compliance of the above conditions.
