28.5c India
The Indian Army has made an enormous step forward by constructing optical fibre connectivity in two of its most remote and rugged outposts in Ladakh: Siachen and Daulet Beg Oldie. This effort attempts to offer high-speed internet connectivity to some of the world's most hostile environments.
On Monday, the Army's 14 Corps, known as the Fire and Fury Corps, stated that its signallers risked harsh weather and dangerous terrain to build optical fibre lines at elevations surpassing 18,000 feet. "Navigating treacherous crevasses and enduring bone-chilling frigid winds, they left no stone unturned to ensure seamless connectivity in formidable conditions," according to the Corps.
This initiative demonstrates the Army's consistent commitment to improving communication infrastructure in strategically important areas. Siachen, the world's highest battleground, and DBO, along the contentious Line of Actual Control (LAC), are critical to India's defensive activities.
Siachen made headlines in September when President Droupadi Murmu became the first Indian female president to visit the base camp. Her visit marked the 40th anniversary of Operation Meghdoot, which secured the glacier for India in 1984.
Furthermore, India is building an alternate road to DBO to improve logistical and Army movement, which will provide strategic benefits by avoiding visibility from across the LAC.