(a) whether it is fact that there is a need to increase bandwidth within the North Eastern Region and to implement Optical Fibre Project in the region;
(b) if so, steps taken by the Government for the introduction of IT enabled Services in the region; and
(c) if not, the reasons thereof?
MINISTER OF PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI PRAMOD MAHAJAN)
(a): Yes, Sir. The details of the Optical Fibre routes already available in the North Eastern Region and those planned to be provided during 2001-2002 are given in the Annexrue.
(b): Government of India has set-up a Software Technology Park with Satellite Earth Station at Guwahati and proposes to set-up hub centres at Gangtok (Sikkim) and Agartala (Tripura) to provide High Speed Data commnication link and statutory services. This would help in promoting export of software and IT Enabled services from the North Eastern Region.
(c): Does not arise.