West Tripura Lok Sabha MP Biplab Kumar Deb has called for urgent strengthening of BSNL’s telecom network in border and hilly regions of Tripura, citing both public convenience and national security concerns. He also questioned the pace of 5G service expansion in the state, urging officials to clarify why progress has been slower than expected.

Speaking to reporters after attending a Telecom Advisory Committee (TAC) meeting at BSNL’s headquarters in Kaman Chowmuhani, Agartala, Deb highlighted persistent connectivity issues in border villages. He said that in several stretches, Indian SIM cards fail to provide service for nearly 10 kilometres, while signals from Bangladesh’s mobile networks penetrate up to 15 kilometres inside Indian territory. He warned that this not only hampers communication for residents but also poses a serious security risk, as domestic networks must be strong enough to support surveillance and investigative needs.

Deb stressed that expanding BSNL towers along the border would improve communication for locals and aid security agencies in accessing call records and data during investigations. He reminded officials that Tripura’s long international border requires special attention to ensure uninterrupted domestic coverage.

The MP also reviewed earlier issues raised in past TAC meetings, including BSNL’s infrastructure, customer service, employment generation, and network expansion. He said the meeting would assess progress on those points and identify matters that need escalation to the central government.

On the subject of advanced services, Deb acknowledged that BSNL has significantly expanded 4G coverage in Tripura. However, he questioned whether 5G services are advancing at the required pace, noting that the state still lacks adequate speed and reach. He said this issue would be raised formally in the meeting to seek clarity from officials.

Deb further recalled past restrictions on international roaming in the Northeast, imposed due to insurgency concerns. He noted that while those restrictions were eventually lifted, implementation took time, and the current situation has improved.

The meeting was attended by Rajya Sabha MP Rajib Bhattacharjee and senior BSNL officials, who joined discussions on infrastructure gaps and possible solutions.

With connectivity challenges persisting in border and hill regions, Deb’s intervention has placed renewed focus on the need for robust telecom infrastructure in Tripura, balancing both developmental needs and national security imperatives.