Some remote parts of Bumthang still experience poor or erratic mobile network coverage.
Villagers of Shingkhar Village under Ura Gewog are irked by unreliable cellular connectivity.
They claim that both Tashi Cell and B-Mobile networks are hardly accessible. So, they usually climb on a raised ground to make calls.
Likewise, some of them keep their phones on their windows to get network.
“When we inform our neighbours about an upcoming meeting in our village’s group chat, half of them were unaware of it as the informant’s voice message doesn’t get delivered due to poor internet connectivity. So, there are regular instances of arguments between the informant and the group chat members here” Ugyen Tenzin from Shingkhar, said.
Some others complain that access to information has been limited due to poor cellular network services.
“Our life has become very dependent on telecommunication now. From our daily activities to seeking medical help, we have to do everything through phones but it’s a trying experience here,” adds Phuntsho Dhendup also from Shingkhar.
Some villages in Tang and Chhoekhor gewogs are facing similar mobile network woes.
“We have lots of issues with mobile network here. Let alone the other associated problems faced by the people, as the Tsogpa of the Chiwog, I am even facing difficulties in communicating with the gewog centre,” shares Tashi Lhendup, Tshogpa of Tandingang Chiwog in Tang.
However, both TashiCell and Bhutan Telecom’s offices in Bumthang are working on improving mobile network in the district.
TashiCell has plans to raise the height of some of the existing mobile towers.
Similarly, Bhutan Telecom has upgraded 2G networks in some places to 3G recently.
The office also has plans to build a new network tower at Tangsibi in Ura within the next two months.
There are currently 11 TashiCell and 20 Bhutan Telecom’s network stations in Bumthang.
