Facing flak for its poor network and below-standard broadband facilities across Kashmir, the state owned cellular operator Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited is now taking some ‘baby steps’ to improve its service.
Acknowledged by the top officials of the cellular company in Jammu and Kashmir that there are hiccup in the services, complaints about the erratic connectivity and poor broadband have been received from across the Valley during last six months from areas including Shopian, Ganderbal, Kupwara and various localities of the city, including business hub of Balgarden, Karan Nagar and Lal Chowk.
Talking to us, Salim Beg, General Manager, BSNL, Kashmir Division said in view of the widespread complaints about the internet connectivity, especially broadband, BSNL has put a ‘foot forward’ to address the concerns which have also been received by GM’s office. Beg, who has been at the helm of affairs at BSNL only for last few months said the focus lies on restoration of equipment and setting up of new machines, which can help to provide a boost to the broadband speed.
“A number of people are coming to my office complaining about the internet issues. As a result BSNL has taken steps to increase the bandwidth across the Valley,” Beg said.
Beg said it is a known fact that businesses here are being hit due to poor connectivity and even student community along with offices are facing the problem of internet playing ‘hide and seek’. He said keeping in view the troubles faced by common people, the cellular company has arranged an equipment at both Kashmir and Jammu ends to enhance the speed.
While the optimum speed of the broadband has to be 1MBPS but the service provider has failed to deliver the required service to its customers in the Valley, Beg added. He assured that an improved internet service would be available to broadband customers within a week in the Valley as BSNL has arranged the new equipment, Beg said.
While ‘D-Slam’, the equipment that detects the faults in the internet service line in Kashmir Valley is functioning smoothly, there are still concerns with the internet speed. In order to do a status check of internet speed, Beg said BSNL has recently conducted a test to check the flaws in the internet speed and it has arrived to a conclusion to install an equipment, which will provide a boost to the speed.
Despite efforts of BSNL to improve its broadband service, complaints regarding interruptions have been pouring in from all over the Valley.
BSNL to improve broadband services in a week: GM
