Fifty-nine of Nagaland’s 75 block headquarters are yet to receive Optical Fibre Cable (OFC) connectivity, while eight of the state’s 17 district headquarters are also awaiting coverage, according to information provided by Union Minister for Communications and Development of North Eastern Region, Jyotiraditya M Scindia.
In a communication dated October 14, 2026, addressed to Nagaland Lok Sabha MP S Supongmeren Jamir, Scindia said the matter had been examined by the Department following the MP’s letter dated August 4, 2026, regarding BSNL connectivity in Nagaland.
According to the minister, nine district headquarters currently have OFC connectivity, while the remaining eight are planned for coverage. At the block level, 16 of the 75 block headquarters have OFC connectivity, with the remaining 59 planned to be covered.
On mobile connectivity, Scindia informed that BSNL was installing 346 4G towers under the 4G Saturation Project to provide services to 458 villages in Nagaland. Of these, 287 towers have been commissioned, extending 4G services to 387 villages.
The minister further stated that All-Dielectric Self-Supporting (ADSS) cables were proposed along single- and double-lane roads to facilitate easier accessibility and maintenance, while improving network reliability. The project aims to achieve a network reliability level of 99.5 per cent.
He added that the project was proposed to be implemented in close coordination with the concerned state authorities to minimise disruption and integrate the OFC network with existing telecom infrastructure.
BSNL manpower position
On the availability of technical manpower, Scindia stated that Nagaland Business Area (BA) presently had 187 technical staff, including 17 Junior Engineers (JEs), against a sanctioned strength of 10 JEs.
The minister expressed hope that the information would clarify the position regarding BSNL connectivity and manpower in Nagaland.
The communication was forwarded to the media by the Communications Department of the Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) for publication.