Centre admits BSNL gaps in Nagaland

• 287 of 346 towers up
• 71 villages still without 4G

Dimapur, October 31 (MExN): Member of Parliament (Lok Sabha) from Nagaland, S Supongmeren Jamir has highlighted significant gaps in BSNL’s telecom infrastructure in the State and urged the Union Government to ensure time-bound completion of pending Optical Fibre Cable (OFC) and 4G tower projects, according to an official response received by him.

In a letter dated October 14, 2026, Union Minister for Communications and Development of North Eastern Region Jyotiraditya M Scindia replied to MP Jamir’s D.O. letter of August 4, acknowledging infrastructure shortfalls and outlining the ongoing and proposed expansion of BSNL services across Nagaland.

According to the Ministry’s response, only 9 of Nagaland’s 17 District Headquarters (DHQs) have OFC connectivity, while the remaining 8 are yet to be covered. Similarly, of the 75 Block Headquarters (BHQs), only 16 have OFC connectivity, leaving 59 awaiting coverage.

Under the 4G Saturation Project, BSNL is installing 346 4G towers to cover 458 villages across the State. However, only 287 towers have been commissioned so far, providing 4G services to 387 villages—indicating that a significant portion of the project remains unfinished.

The Minister’s response also revealed that Nagaland BSNL presently has 187 technical staff, including 17 Junior Engineers (JEs), against a sanctioned strength of 10 JEs.

Jamir said reliable telecommunications connectivity is no longer a luxury but an essential public service, particularly for a geographically challenging and predominantly rural State like Nagaland, linking it directly to education, healthcare, economic opportunities, banking services, governance and emergency communication.

Emphasising that merely announcing projects and providing progress figures is not enough, the MP said the Government must address the remaining OFC connectivity gaps and pending 4G tower installations within a definite timeframe, as the people of Nagaland deserve actual, uninterrupted and reliable connectivity.

He further urged the Ministry and BSNL authorities to work in close coordination with the State Government to expedite implementation, strengthen existing infrastructure and ensure that remote and underserved villages are not left behind in the country’s digital transformation.

Jamir reiterated his commitment to continuously pursue public-interest issues before the Union Government and ensure that Nagaland receives its rightful share of infrastructure development and essential services.