AGARTALA, July 24 (TIWN): India and the counterpart Bangladesh would go for a joint meeting taking up the issue of international internet gateway project signed between both the nations. The meeting would be held on July 27 at Agartala Akhaura Integrated Check Post (ICP), informed top official of Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL), Tripura to TIWN.The official talking to TIWN on Thursday said that the meeting would be convened by the delegations of both the country and the delegations from Tripura.Asked about the main objective of the meeting the official informed that the meeting would review the current status of the work of internet gateway project in Bangladesh as well as in Agartala. Besides, certain issued would be taken up in the discussion on July 27related to the project work. The mode of actions being taken by the Bangladesh would also be reviewed in the meeting, he said. He further informed that the BSNL is eyeing forward to complete the work of laying the optical fibre in Agartala till the Akhaura Check Post by the next 10 days. For the next phase work several others equipments would be brought from New Delhi soon, the official told to TIWN.The Bangladesh Telecommunications Company has to lay optical fibre cable of the 30 km distance from Brahmanbaria to Akhaura, which adjoins Agartala, while the BSNL will set up international long distance (ILD) gateway at Agartala along with associated equipment.

However, Agartala is all set to become the third international internet gateway in the country after Mumbai and Chennai very soon and to get the taste of 10 Gbps high speed internet facility the work of laying the optical fibres in Agartala is going on full swing and is expected to be completed by next 10 days.

An optical fibre cable from Agartala will be linked to a telecom cable company at Cox`s Bazar in south Bangladesh. Agartala Akhaura Check Post would be the main centre point where the fibres of both the nation would be joined. Initially, BSNL will lease 10 GBPS bandwidth from Bangladesh`s lone submarine cable operator, Bangladesh Submarine Cable Company Limited (BSCCL).

After the establishment of the optical fibre cable (OFC) link between Akhaura (along Agartala) and Cox's Bazar, there would not only be a sea change in the Internet and telecommunication connectivity in northeast India, but the other parts of the country would also be benefited by getting additional Internet bandwidth

The connectivity will facilitate northeastern states to be connected with reliable global telecom network, which will provide high-speed and uninterrupted telecommunication. so far northeastern states have been getting Internet connectivity through Mumbai and Chennai international Internet gateway but the distance was creating lots of problems, including very weak speed and drop of linkages, said the official.

On June 5, India and Bangladesh signed the agreement with an aim to boost bilateral ties and develop a strong telecom network in Southeast Asia. And Union Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad had laid the foundation stone of the internet gateway on July 11 here in Agartala.

In an effort to create a hassle-free and potent Internet link for the northeastern states, the India and Bangladesh had signed the pact after the Bangladesh Government had agreed to the proposal of Tripura Left front government.