Darjeeling MP Raju Bista has announced the launch of a stable BSNL media network for Kalimpong District, addressing persistent connectivity challenges in the region. The network was officially inaugurated at the 2025 Telecom Advisory Committee (TAC) meeting.
Kalimpong previously depended on a 144-km optical fibre cable (OFC) network via Sikkim, which was highly vulnerable to landslides and road damage. Frequent disruptions affected 1,277 FTTH customers, 48 lease circuits, and over 54,000 mobile connections, causing significant operational hurdles for government offices, banks, and private institutions. Mr Bista highlighted his persistent efforts to resolve the issue, stating, “At the last TAC meeting, I raised this concern and worked with the Telecom Ministry and BSNL leadership to find a solution.”
His discussions with Telecom Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia and BSNL officials led to the approval of a 10G bandwidth contract from Power Grid Corporation of India Limited in October 2024. After a successful six-month trial, the upgraded network is now fully operational.