Tata Communications is planning a terrestrial optical fibre cable link between India and Bangladesh in collaboration with BD Link Communications Ltd.
The proposed cable will connect Bangaon in West Bengal to Benapol in Bangladesh.
BD Link Communications, which is a Bangladeshi international telephony service provider, will lay the cable in that country. Tata Communications will be using a spare fibre pair that has already been laid and operational for connectivity with other Bangladeshi operators. Tata Communications will splice up the existing cable at Petrapol in West Bengal.
Bilateral traffic
“The proposed optical fibre link shall be used to for bilateral traffic (international long distance voice and data, Internet, as well as for transit traffic between various countries and Bangladesh via India,” stated an internal Government note seen by
Tata Communications has shared the plan with the Government for approval since the Government holds a minority share in the company.
The Government has given an in-principle agreement to the cable link because the company had earlier done a similar link with Novacom, Summit Communications and Mango Teleservices, according to the note.
“However, the final clearance shall be given only after the link is ready and successful demonstration of the interception and monitoring capabilities to the satisfaction of the security agencies,” the note stated.