Sri Vijaya Puram, May 16: The Union Ministry of Communications has responded to concerns raised regarding internet connectivity issues in Shaheed Dweep following a representation submitted by Bishnu Pada Ray seeking direct optical fiber connectivity for the island.
In a communication dated May 11, Union Minister for Communications Jyotiraditya Scindia informed the Member of Parliament that the matter had been examined by the department following concerns over unreliable internet services and network disruptions in Shaheed Dweep.
The Minister stated that BSNL has recently commissioned a new high-capacity link connecting North Bay, Sri Vijaya Puram and Shaheed Dweep, which has reportedly improved network stability and increased bandwidth availability for the island.
The communication further stated that a high-level committee has also been constituted to examine submarine cable connectivity to the remaining islands of the Andaman and Nicobar archipelago.
The response came after Bishnu Pada Ray wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Union Communications Minister on April 3 highlighting persistent complaints regarding poor internet connectivity in Shaheed Dweep, formerly known as Neil Island.
In his letter, the MP stated that despite optical fibre connectivity being extended to nearby islands such as Swaraj Dweep, Shaheed Dweep continued to face inconsistent and unreliable internet services.
The representation noted that telecom towers in several parts of the island appeared to depend on indirect connectivity from other locations, resulting in frequent disruptions, slow internet speeds and unstable network performance.
The MP also highlighted the impact of poor connectivity on daily life, tourism activities and essential services on the island.
The letter stated that residents and tourists were facing difficulties because of unstable internet access, which was also affecting the tourism sector, one of the primary economic activities in Shaheed Dweep.
The representation further mentioned that complaints regarding connectivity issues had earlier been raised with BSNL and the Andaman and Nicobar Telecom Circle, but local residents had reportedly not witnessed substantial improvement in network performance.
The MP had requested the Centre to take necessary steps for establishing strong and direct optical fibre connectivity to Shaheed Dweep to ensure stable, high-speed internet access for residents, businesses and visitors.
Internet and telecom connectivity continue to remain significant concerns in several remote islands of the Andaman and Nicobar archipelago where geographical challenges, weather conditions and dependence on limited communication infrastructure often affect network reliability.
Tourism operators, local businesses, educational institutions and residents in islands such as Shaheed Dweep have repeatedly highlighted the importance of stable internet connectivity for communication, online services, digital payments, tourism operations and emergency response systems.
The communication from the Union Ministry indicates that discussions regarding expansion of submarine cable connectivity infrastructure to additional islands are presently under consideration at the national level.
