Joint measurement drive of OFCs planned

BANGALORE: After the Chief Secretary raised objections at Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP)for cutting down illegal Optical Fibre Cable (OFC), the Palike is now planning a joint measurement drive along with tele service providers. Chief Secretary S V Ranganath had asked BBMP officials to defer the drive to disconnect OFCs laid illegally in the city.According to BBMP, of the 25,000 km OFC networks in the city, only 5,000 km is authorised. Palike which is expecting around Rs 700 crore from OFC threatened to disconnect all illegal cables. Service providers fear that if OFCs are cut, interent connection will be disturbed.In this regard, representatives from OFC companies met the Chief Secretary and sought his intervention.Ranganath, in a meeting with Urban Development Department, IT Secretary and BBMP officials on Saturday, asked BBMP not to disconnect OFCs. He raised objections for not involving service providers Now, Palike officials have come up with another initiative to involve service providers.According to a senior official from Palike they will conduct a joint measurement drive along with service providers. “Work is expected to start in the next three days,” the official added.