India is considering revamping its decades-old communication systems in areas along the border with China.
India has identified 73 roads along the border as strategic Indo-China border roads; their total number's estimation is scheduled to be completed by 2020. Out of the 73 roads, 22 roads with an aggregate length of 707.74 km have already been equipped.
Rumel Dahiya, Deputy DG, Institute of Defense Studies and Analyses, says, "Communication is a big problem in higher altitude regions. If we want to make the communication foolproof, we have to go for optical fiber. Physical lines can very easily be dismantled or disconnected. As it is, they do not have much capacity to transmit large volumes of communication. Satellite communication is highly susceptible to various kinds of obstructions. Line of sight communication is not possible in the terrain along the Indo-China border. Communication between valleys is not possible as there are ridges in between. Therefore, optic fiber cables are not only important in strategic terms but equally important for civilian purpose."
India hopes that by strengthening its communication facilities in those areas, such dissent will be negated.
Indians living along the mountainous frontier regions currently rely on satellite communication, which is highly susceptible to obstructions caused by bad weather conditions.
