The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) on Thursday cleared a long-pending project worth Rs 7,796 crore to establish a secure communication network for the Indian Army that will include modern optical fibre cable links to forward areas.

In a statement, the defence ministry on Thursday said that the new Army Static Switched Communication Network (ASCON) will provide a “big boost to the operational capability of the defence forces”, given the current operational situation on the border with China in eastern Ladakh where the armies of the two countries have been locked in a stand-off since May.

The project will be implemented by the public sector company ITI.

“The project would augment the communication network of Indian Army in the sensitive forward operational areas which in turn will provide a major boost to the operational preparedness of the Indian Army especially keeping in view the current operational situation at LAC (Line of Actual Control),” said a statement from the defence ministry.

The project is a big opportunity for the public sector.