Vihaan Network installs 1,315 solar Wi-Fi towers in LWE region
Vihaan Network has installed 1,315 solar Wi-Fi towers in LWE (Left Wing Extremism) region to build a mobile phone network in the most-affected regions across ten Indian states.
2,199 solar-powered mobile communication towers have been setup in a record time of less than a year, altering not just the geographical, but critically, the social landscape of the area.
Deprived citizens, almost living on the edge of poverty now have a window to the rest of the world, as they start using mobile phones to connect with families, employers, doctors and local bureaucrats and politicians, boost their productivity through better education, access to agricultural inputs and markets, finance and banking and avenues for small businesses, and slowly start moving on the path to progress.
On August 20, 2014, the union cabinet approved the extension of mobile telephonic services to 2,199 locations affected by Left Wing Extremism (LWE) in the states of Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal.
There are 106 districts across 10 states which have been identified by the government as LWE-affected districts. The project was executed by Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL). BSNL has successfully installed towers at these locations giving network coverage to many villages as well as security forces camps and important locations with the help of Vihaan Networks and HFCL.
Speaking on the occasion, Rajiv Mehrotra, chairman, Vihaan Network, said, “It is a proud moment for us as we been able to connect millions of rural consumers, through our efficient infrastructure and expertise in Solar enabled telecom equipments. When we talk of integrated socio-economic development, it takes into account many areas that can benefit from faster access and enhanced productivity by using voice and data connectivity be it security, surveillance, connectivity and information access. In areas which are bereft of basic infrastructure, mobile connectivity underlines the solution to many.”
The project is funded by the USOF and the total project cost is Rs 3,567.58 crores this includes CAPEX as well as O&M for a period of 5 years.
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