The Union Ministry of Communications’ claim that Sikkim has achieved 100% mobile network coverage across all 68 border villages under the Digital Bharat Nidhi (DBN) scheme has sparked criticism from tourists and local operators who report persistent connectivity issues in key destinations. While the Centre announced the installation of 11 new mobile towers, tourists travelling to Nathula Pass, Baba Mandir, and Tsongmo Lake highlighted frequent blackouts in these high-altitude areas. “There was no network after 3rd Mile Check Post. UPI and calls didn’t work — even Airtel failed,” said Surinder Singh, a tourist from Guwahati.
Local driver Ajay Tamang confirmed, “Only Jio is somewhat reliable near Tsongmo. Beyond 5th Mile, signals drop across all networks.” Though acknowledging improvements, he said major dead zones remain. Interestingly, the Gangtok DoT office stated they had not yet received official documentation confirming 100% coverage. “We’re awaiting mapped details from the Centre,” an official said.
Sikkim MP Indra Hang Subba has been vocal in Parliament about poor network access, urging realistic implementation of digital infrastructure. While the DBN and Vibrant Village Programme aim to uplift remote connectivity, ground-level experiences in the Imphal market and key tourist circuits indicate a gap between policy and reality.