'Telecom connectivity in naxal-hit region completed'

The government has completed rollout of telecom network in areas worst affected by left-wing extremism (LWE) across 10 states, Telecom Minister Manoj Sinha has said.
"The Government of India has completed roll out of a telecom network in areas worst affected by left-wing extremism across ten states in record time as part of a major initiative to boost development in the Red Corridor," he was quoted saying at an event hosted by Vihaan Networks Ltd (VNL).
VNL has worked with state-run BSNL to set up a major chunk of the network rollout that is solar-powered.
The green mobile network in LWE affected regions, which uses indigenously designed and manufactured technology, was rolled out in less than 18 months.

VNL will now operate and manage the network for a period of 5 years.
The project is part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Pragati Programme and has been actively pushed by the Home Ministry.
"India has the second largest mobile subscriber base in the world. The government has fast-tracked reforms in the telecom sector and we continue to be proactive in resonating to the union government's vision of 'Make in India and Digital India'," BSNL CMD Anupam Shrivastava said.