Kashmir to Get Cell Phone Coverage

The disputed region of Indian Kashmir is finally expected to get cell phone services later this week following approval from India's military. The Indian Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee said last week that he would visit the region later this month and promised to launch the cell phone service within a week.

Vajpayee, in his Independence Day address, announced that long-awaited cell phone service would be launched in the state "next week". India's Home Ministry has approved the launch of a cell phone service, but the move has been opposed by the military who feared cell phones would make it easier for terrorists to communicate with each other.

Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) has already built a mobile network in the state capital, Srinagar with a capacity for 11,000 users and is planning to expand that to 22,000 once permission is given to start signing up subscribers."

Posted to the site on 18th August 2003