Kupwara: Residents of the remote border village of Simari in Karnah Valley, Kupwara, are celebrating a major milestone as mobile connectivity has finally reached their doorstep, ending years of communication difficulties.
Until recently, villagers had to walk nearly a kilometre towards neighbouring Khokar village to access a mobile signal. With the commissioning of a new mobile tower in Simari, residents can now make phone calls and access internet services from their homes.
The tower, established by Jio with facilitation from the Indian Army, has brought reliable voice and data connectivity to the village located near the Line of Control (LoC). The development is expected to significantly improve access to digital services and communication facilities in the area.
Locals said the new connectivity will benefit students by enabling online learning, help families stay in touch with relatives, and allow residents to access digital banking, government services and emergency communication more efficiently.
Residents described the installation of the mobile tower as a transformative step for the village, noting that dependable connectivity will strengthen links with the outside world and open new opportunities for education, information and socio-economic development.
The initiative marks an important advancement in improving infrastructure and digital inclusion in some of the most remote areas of Karnah Valley.