Vikramaditya
Port Blair, Feb 07: The undersea cable connecting the Andaman and Nicobar Islands has brought about a sea of changes in these remote Islands. It has blessed this UT with high-speed internet and several other facilities linked to it. However, despite these advancements, residents of Shaheed Dweep feel neglected as they remain unconnected to the undersea OFC network.
Residents of Shaheed Dweep, the second most favoured tourist destination in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, feel the brunt of this neglect. With thousands of tourists visiting daily for its natural beauty, it’s perplexing why Shaheed Dweep was left out from the high speed internet connection. While far flung island like Great Nicobar and lonely island like Long Islands were connected undersea OFC, the Tourist favourite Shaheed Dweep was ignored while connecting Islands with OFC cable and no one really knows the reason behind this.
The lack of high-speed internet has made life challenging for the people of Shaheed Dweep. They rely on slow satellite internet, making basic tasks like online studies, job applications, and government procedures extremely difficult. Even simple tasks like filling online forms or completing KYC processes become drawn-out affairs, impacting farmers, ration shop users, and others who depend on online services.
“We need to go online to apply for fertilisers, with slow internet we are even unable to go online and hence many farmers do not get fertilisers on time. Similar problems we face while buying ration from Fair Price Shops. Even online KYC takes several weeks to complete,” said a resident of Shaheed Dweep.
Recognizing these challenges, the people of Shaheed Dweep are demanding immediate connectivity to the undersea cable network. They argue that access to fast internet is essential for both residents and tourists. If a direct undersea cable connection is not feasible, they suggest a branch connection from Swaraj Dweep, which is nearby. Such a connection at the local level would ensure that high-speed internet reaches Shaheed Dweep, benefiting both residents and visitors alike.