Bharti Airtel has expanded network coverage to Man and Merak near Pangong Lake, becoming the first private operator to connect the remote 50-kilometre stretch between Chushul and Pangong Tso. The rollout ends years of zero connectivity and is expected to boost tourism, local livelihoods, public services and digital inclusion in Ladakh.
Bharti Airtel has achieved a milestone that blends connectivity with nation-building, expanding its mobile network coverage to Man and Merak, two of the most remote villages on the eastern border of Ladakh near Pangong Lake. With the rollout, Airtel has become the first private telecom operator to establish a presence in this strategically critical terrain, once synonymous with blank signals and an absence of communication infrastructure. For residents, travellers, and administration alike, the announcement represents more than an upgrade — it marks the end of a long-standing communications blackout across a region where geography has frequently eclipsed technological ambition.
The newly connected villages sit along the breathtaking yet challenging stretch between Chushul and Pangong Tso, a route that strikes awe among tourists and commands strategic importance owing to its proximity to the Line of Actual Control. In spite of its national significance, the region’s mountainous topography has posed immense barriers to telecom deployment, leaving a nearly 50-kilometre expanse without any connectivity. Until now, for locals who depended on word of mouth and vehicle messengers, and for visitors navigating an unpredictable landscape, a mobile signal was a luxury they could not access.
Airtel’s network expansion in Ladakh marks a tactical engineering achievement, carved out of persistent efforts to overcome harsh weather patterns, high-altitude logistics and rugged land profiles. Setting up telecom infrastructure in a terrain that remains snowbound for large parts of the year and is cut off during winter requires both innovation and commitment. In this context, the rollout stands not merely as a technological deployment but as a demonstration of how connectivity can reach even the edges of geography when prioritised. For Airtel, being the first private operator to expand service to Man and Merak consolidates its broader ambition of extending 5G-ready networks across some of the country’s most challenging landscapes.
For the communities of Man and Merak, modern connectivity opens a new chapter. Residents who were previously forced to rely on satellite phones for emergencies or travel long distances to reach places with signal will now have seamless access to calling, mobile internet and digital services. The rollout means that students can participate in online learning, small businesses can access e-commerce platforms and banking services can operate without geographical hindrance. At a time when digital inclusion is a priority for national development, the shift in these remote border settlements will be transformative.
The impact extends beyond everyday communication. Mobile networks are now deeply interwoven with essential public service infrastructure. With Airtel’s entry, officials in the region will be able to coordinate more efficiently on healthcare services, disaster management and security monitoring. Ladakh’s tough winters often lead to medical emergencies requiring rapid response; instant communication can now help bridge delays that earlier cost valuable time. For farmers and herders, market updates, subsidy information and access to government schemes will become more immediate, addressing long-standing barriers in accessing timely support.
Tourism — the backbone of the Pangong economy — is expected to be one of the most significant beneficiaries of the deployment. Pangong Lake has emerged as one of India’s most visited travel destinations in recent years, particularly after becoming a cultural icon in cinema and social media. Yet, the absence of mobile connectivity posed significant challenges. Hotels and homestays struggled to take online bookings; tour operators navigated the lake region without real-time updates; and travellers were unable to share location updates or contact emergency services. Now, with uninterrupted mobile coverage, tourism stakeholders anticipate a surge in confidence among visitors who can explore the area with greater safety and convenience.
The promise of seamless connectivity also supports sustainable tourism. Better real-time contact between travellers and local service providers reduces the strain on rescue resources and mitigates safety risks. For the tourism-driven village economies scattered around Pangong, the improvements can translate to more consistent business flows, increased digital payments and broader visibility through online travel platforms. In a region where livelihoods are seasonal and dependent on footfall, technology becomes a lifeline.
The deployment also holds symbolic value. It sends a message that frontier communities are not on the periphery of India’s development priorities. Extending telecom infrastructure into high-altitude rural Ladakh does more than connect phones — it connects people to the country’s digital future. In an era where digitisation fuels economic growth and inclusion, the expansion to Man and Merak signals a long-awaited integration of remote citizens into the national digital ecosystem.
The rollout feeds into Airtel’s larger mobility strategy to expand network accessibility to places once considered unreachable. Ladakh now joins a list of high-priority regions where Airtel has been strengthening infrastructure as part of its mission to enhance rural and border connectivity. While competition in metropolitan and tier-one markets continues to intensify, the frontier push highlights a different avenue of leadership — one defined not just by subscriber numbers, but by the societal value of telecom penetration.
For years, travellers standing along the Pangong shoreline and residents living in the shadow of its mountains have looked at mobile screens displaying “No Service”. That single line defined communication possibilities in a place known for dramatic scenery and strategic positioning but devoid of modern access. Today, that message has finally changed. With Airtel’s network now live across the entire stretch, Ladakh — even in its most secluded corners — is talking back to the world.
The mountains remain as imposing as ever, the winds unforgiving, the winters preserved in stillness. But now, calls will go through, messages will be sent, and connections once confined to roads and radio will be built with the tap of a screen. The expansion to Man and Merak underscores a critical truth: connectivity is not a privilege reserved for cities and highways — it is infrastructure that belongs to every citizen, regardless of terrain or latitude.
As India looks forward to widening the digital grid across rural and border regions, the story of these two Ladakhi villages stands as an example of what technology can unlock when ambition meets perseverance. What was once a silent strip between Chushul and Pangong Tso is now wired into the national network — shaping livelihoods, experiences and outcomes for years to come.
