In a first, troops get 4G, 5G access across in Galwan, Siachen

Troops deployed in terrains such as Daulat Beg Oldie (DBO), Galwan, Demchok, Chumar, Batalik, Dras and the Siachen Glacier will now have access to reliable 4G, 5G connectivity, officials said.

The Army described the move as “a transformative stride towards bridging the digital divide and empowering remote communities” across the remote and high-altitude areas of Ladakh, including forward locations in Eastern Ladakh, Western Ladakh, and the Siachen Glacier.

A particularly historic milestone was the successful installation of a 5G mobile tower on the Siachen Glacier — the highest battlefield in the world — showcasing India’s technological prowess and resolve, read a statement by the Jammu-based PRO of Defence Ministry, Lt Colonel Suneel Bartwal.

“The pioneering effort has been made possible through a collaborative approach under the Whole-of-Government framework, wherein the Indian Army — leveraging its robust optical fibre cable infrastructure — has partnered with Telecom Service Providers (TSPs) and the UT administration of Ladakh,’’ it said.

The Fire and Fury Corps has played a leading role in enabling this synergy, resulting in the installation of multiple mobile towers on Army infrastructure, including four key towers in Ladakh and Kargil districts alone, it added.

Pointing out that the impact of this initiative extends far beyond troop welfare, the Army described it as a “significant nation-building endeavour” that is transforming the socio-economic fabric of remote border villages.

By integrating the ‘First Villages’ (those situated along the borders) into the national digital network, this effort is bridging the digital divide, boosting local economies, promoting border tourism, enhancing medical aid and emergency services, enabling educational access, strengthening local commerce, preserving cultural heritage, and arresting migration from border villages, the statement said.

The local population has welcomed this initiative. Mobile connectivity is not just a communication tool — it is now a lifeline for remote communities, fostering inclusion, opportunity, and dignity, it said.