Editorial
Removing overhead cables
Service providers need more time to do the job
The report titled 'Removal order runs into snag' with accompanying photograph on the back page of The Daily Star on Thursday says a lot about the authorities concerned not being aware of the maxim 'a stitch in time saves nine.' They usually wake up quite late in the day to find a small problem already blown out of proportion and then begin to run in every direction for a solution. The messy situation, with cable TV lines dangling precariously inches above heads of the pedestrians, is another classic example.
The problem has been created over a long period of time as there was no alternative way for the operators to install their lines. As the bosses 'chose' to overlook the developments, about 600 cable TV operators and 92 ISPs today use the DESA electric posts to provide services to nearly 1 million internet users and 3.5 lakh TV viewers in the city. We understand the number of consumers is increasing at a fast rate on a daily basis.
Everything was going fine until the day some government officials suddenly realised that something was inappropriate with those dangling wires. Within no time order from the government reached the doorsteps of the service providers -- those overhead lines have to be removed within 31 October, 2010 and taken through underground transmission system.
The service providers, on their part, expressed their inability to meet the deadline as they lacked necessary logistic support and technical expertise to do the work at such a short notice. To be candid, even to a layman it looks like a task that would take months. To our knowledge, so far only 5 cable operators have signed an agreement with a telecommunication company to use its underground transmission system.
It appears the cable operators and ISPs would need more time to remove tons of wire and connect them through the underground system. Unless they are given the required time it is the ever growing consumers who would suffer most. We therefore would like to suggest the authorities concerned to sit with the service providers and fix a deadline they would be able to meet.
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