POLICE TELECOMMUNICATIONS

1.  INTRODUCTION

                    All of us are already aware that today, when we are at the threshold of 21^st Century, the world is witnessing a revolution which we call information revolution, type of which was witnessed by the civilization in respect of agricultural revolution which was based on land then the industrial revolution which was on capital. The world is fast moving from a stage where the size and complexity of information and communication systems will be the barometer of a country’s development. Although the fall out of industrial revolution was to force people to come out from villages to towns, the information revolution, as we are witnessing currently, is expected to generate the reverse trends.

                 As matter of fact, the information revolution is bringing the world community to a point where the idea of a global village has almost a reality, thanks to the revolutionary development in the field of telecommunications, computers and very high speed switching technologies.

 

2.    TELECOMUNICATIONS IN ARUNACHAL PRADESH POLICE

                 Arunachal Pradesh is strategically located in the extreme North-East corner of India and the road network has not yet been fully developed. Even now, there are some Circle Head Quarters, which can be reached only after 2 to 10 days foot march.

                 There are 17 District Head Quarters, 12 ADC Head Quarters, 20 SDO Head Quarters, 17 EAC Head Quarters and 105 Circle Headquarters in the State of Arunachal Pradesh.  There are 72 Police Stations, 12 Out Posts and 25 Check Gates.

       The department of Telecommunication (BSNL) network is grossly inadequate and telephone facilities are available only at few places. The BSNL network for interior areas of the state is not reliable and hence Police Wireless is the only channel of Communication, for law and order, as well as for State Government Administration.

       Arunachal Pradesh Police came into existence on 8^th  Nov’ 1972. The capital was shifted from Shillong to Itanagar in 1974.  Arunachal Pradesh Police Telecommunication network was started by installing two HF stations for communication between Shillong and Itanagar.

        The Police Telecommunication network is also catering to the needs of civil Administration and 60% of the total traffic pertaining to message of civil administration. Moreover, during any exigency due to natural calamity, fire accident etc. APP Telecom establish temporary network for speedy execution of  relief, evacuation and help. Thus Arunachal Pradesh Police Telecommunication network has an important role in the functioning of Civil Administration. Presently we are dealing with about twelve Crore groups (words) of messages per annum, out of which about eight Crore groups (words) of messages are from other Government Departments.

        The development works undertaken by the State Government through its Department like PWD/DRDA/Health/Education, etc. are carried out in remote areas, where there is no public facility for communication. Obviously all departments depend on Police Wireless network. Hence in absence of smooth functioning of Police wireless net work, developments works can not be executed smoothly.

                   However, no charges are being levied for the services rendered by Telecom net work to all government departments, CRPF is also maintaining WT communication at some location and is charging for each communication at the rates applicable for express telegram, which is one rupee for each word.

        Thus, APP is saving the State Government about eight Crore Rupees per annum for transmission / receipt of non-police messages of various department of Government of Arunachal Pradesh.

                  There are 19 stations with HF sets only, 29 Station with VHF Sets only and 70 Station have both HF & VHF Sets.  We are providing WT Communication facility at 19 locations, which do not have any Police, present (CO/EAC Locations / DRC / LO Locations).

                  We have provided WT sets at all locations which have police presence in some form or the other (Police Stations, Out Posts, Check gate).  There are 63 Administration locations which are not yet covered by APP Telecom Network.

 

 3.    APP TELECOM EQUIPMENT AND FACILITIES

                APP Telecom organization is having the following type of equipments for voice / data communication.

 (A)       HF Communication (Continuous wave / voice mode):-  APP Telecom unit is maintaining 118 Locations i.e HF 83, VHF-105, BEST-19, RPTR-19 and POL NET- 12 Stations, PHQ Control room is linked to all DHQ and most of the Police Station and a few Civil administrative locations.  It suffers from the following limitations:-

 i) Cost of the equipment / maintenance is too high.

ii) HF Communication is based on Morse methodology and this technology has become obsolete in most of the Police organization of India.

iii)    CW communication is the most unsecured communication as because any trained personnel can interrupt it.

iv)     CW communication mainly depend on ionosphere, hence its communication varies with the variation of atmosphere.

(B)        All DHQ have been linked with PHQ Control Room for data transmission / reception. It can work on both HF as well as VHF with the help of respective modem. Presently, we are using HF media for Data Communication. Though, it has been found most satisfactory BEST communication over its security, speed, it suffers from following limitations:-

i)      The cost of equipment / accessories are very high.

ii)     The memory is less and hence limited number of messages can be stored.

iii)      It requires operator presence / intervention during transmission.

 (C)     VHF  (voice) communication – APP Telecom organization is maintaining 99 VHF stations. Static sets have been installed at these locations and required sets have been fixed in the Police mobile and security vehicles.

   The VHF Communication system is more reliable than the HF Communication system. The HF communication mainly depends upon the atmosphere condition and the ionosphere in the space with changes its density and height ( with respect to Earth) vary frequently, hence the HF signal conditions also vary in accordance with the positions of the ionosphere  layers in the space as such signal strength of the HF voice communication system is not reliable. Whereas the frequency band i.e. from 30 MHz to 300 MHz that is called very high frequency band is a line of sight (LOS) Communication from which the signal strength is not affected even if the atmosphere conditions are changing. The Cost of VHF set is very cheap in comparison to HF set i.e. Rs. 15,000.00 against HF set of Rs. 2,40,000/-.

 

 4.  MODERNIZATION PROJECT 

 A. VHF NETWORK FOR DATA/VOICE COMMUNICATION USING REPEATERS. 

 The range of VHF communication can be increased by installing repeater stations. With the help of repeater stations, we can also avoid so many obstacles within the LOS. It has been observed that the quality of signal even after 4 hope (repetitions), the signal found good and readable and data can also be transmitted by using VHF modem at both ends.

 Extensive surveys have been carried out for identification of repeater spot throughout the Arunachal Pradesh and at DRC / LO locations in Assam / Meghalaya. Sela top ( for Tawang), Bomdila Hill top (for West Kameng / Tawang), Trizino / Bameng (for East Kameng), Tezpur (for Bomdila / Seppa /Tawang), Darira Hill (for Papumpare and Central repeater station for all DHQ), Lilabari (for Lower Subansiry) Pusi Geko ( for Uppersubansiri/ Kurung Kumey), Sago (for West Siang), Manamao (for Changland ), Mariang for Yingkiong, Namsai for Lohit, SP resident Khonsa for Tirap, Ruksin for East Siang have been identified for installation of repeater stations. The following are the main objectives:-

1.     Intra-district VHF Communication: - SP’s can speak with all OCs, I/C Check Gates.

 2.   DHQ to PHQ and vice-versa :- PHQ to be linked to 56 PS out of 71 PS.

 3.   Border Communication (inter-district / intra State)

 4.   Mobile Communication can be covered at any place during movement of VVIP/VIP/Higher official. 

5.    Top management network in capital complex.

6.    Local Communication for L/O arrangements. 

       After completion of VHF Communication survey throughout the State the organizations could achieved the following works:-

1.    Intra – district VHF Communication through repeater in (a) Papumpare district (b) Tirap (c) Chyangland (d) Lohit (e) West

Kameng (f) West Siang.

 2.  Inter – District VHF Communication through repeater in (a) Khonsa (b) Bomdila (c) Ziro (d) Roing (e) Pasighat.

         Rest could not be achieved due to non-availability of equipments / infrastructural support / manpower.

 

 POLNET :- 

The DCPW, MHA Govt. of  India has embarked upon a modernization plan by way of communication through satellite. It is one of the most reliable modes of communication as the satellite is accessible from any place in the country. This has now become feasible on account of the indigenous availability of satellite transponders and the relevant ground equipment, such as HUB, V-SAT (Very Small aperture terminal) which are capable of providing connectivity on voice / DATA / FAX.

             The project envisages installation of Central HUB, at New Delhi which will provide necessary switching and control for the entire network in the country. A hybrid V-SAT shall be installed at each State Capital (Mesh network) and a small V-SAT should be installed at DHQ (State network) for direct connectivity throughout the country on voice / Data / Fax. The Police Stations shall be linked with V-SAT (DHQ) with the help of MART (through EPBAX), thus any PS of the country shall have access to the information on crime, criminal and intelligence, etc of any other PS in the country.

            Under this scheme, APP Telecom organization has been provided 12 V-SAT (for DHQ) and 67 MART (for PS)

 

POLNET (POLICE NETWORK)

            Presently 12 V-SAT Stations are functioning at following DHQ;

         1.         Itanagar (PHQ Control Room),             2.         Tawang           

                         3.        Bomdila,           4.         Seppa, 5.         Ziro     

                         6.        Daporijo,          7.         Aalo                 8.         Pasighat

                         9.        Roing               10.       Tezu                 11.       Changlang

12.      Khonsa.

 

As on date 30 MART Stations have been installed at various PS/Check gate/Police Out Post in the state out of 67 allotted MART equipments where line of sight are found. But these MART stations are not functioning satisfactory due to less bandwidth and other technical problems. To over come the above problems at PS level, IDT (Intel Data Terminal) have been installed at following PS to integrate the various PS in the POL NET Network with the help of HF and VHF media, any PS having IDT station can have communication with any PS of the country through Pol net (V-Sat). The IDT Stations are as follows:-

1.     PHQ Control Room                   2.  Itanagar PS                 3.   Banderdewa PS

4.     Raj Bhawan                               5.  Naharlagun PS             6.   PTC

7.     Holongi C/Gate                         8.    Sagali PS                     9.   Balijan PS

10.   P/Pare Control Room          11. Khonsa C/Room    12. Longding PS