The heights of the Siachen glacier, the world's highest and coldest battlefield, and Daulat Beg Oldi (DBO) have got optical fibre connectivity, ensuring seamless communication in extreme conditions in the region, the Army said.
Located at an altitude of 18,000 to 20,000 feet in the Karakoram mountain range of Ladakh, Siachen Glacier is known as the highest militarised zone in the world. Challenges faced by soldiers stationed here include frostbite and high winds. Temperatures here can drop to −50 °C, making the terrain highly inhospitable.
Amid the icy heights of Siachen and DBO, the signallers of the Fire and Fury Corps braved some of the toughest weather conditions to establish optical-fibre connectivity at altitudes of above 18,000 feet, the Army said.
ALSO READ: Indian Army sets up radio station in Ladakh's Hanle
"For the very first time and against all odds, optical fibre cables were meticulously laid across the ruthless and unforgiving terrain to connect remote locations," the Fire and Fury Corps of the Army said in a tweet on X.
Navigating treacherous crevasses and enduring bone-chilling winds, the signallers demonstrated exceptional dedication to ensure uninterrupted connectivity in these formidable conditions.
Daulat Beg Oldi, which has one of the highest airstrips in the world, is a strategically important military base located in the Karakoram range of northern Ladakh. Its proximity to the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China makes Daulat Beg Oldi extremely important for India.