A Software Technology Park would be set up in Mizoram and the work would begin as soon as the state government allots land, Union Minister of State for Communications and Information Technology Sachin Pilot said today.

Launching the EVDO technology-based wireless broadband service and announcing introduction of Wi-MAX based broadband service, Pilot said that more wireless technology would be provided in the landslide-prone state to prevent disruption of communications by heavy rains and landslides.

He said that while BSNL provided mobile phones to 91,000 people in the state, another 45,000 would be available within a year with services to be improved with state-of-the art technology at a cost of Rs 34 crore.

All villages in the state would be covered with wireless communication by June 2011 and broadband services by the end of 2011, he said.

The officials, accompanying the minister, said that a proposal has been mooted to ensure that pre-paid mobile services in the North East were made national roaming.

Internet services of BSNL would soon be improved and upgraded to meet the challenge posed by private companies, they said.

Pilot was accompanied by state Information Technology Minister Zodintluanga and senior central government officials.

He inaugurated the WLL Mobile Switching Centre of the BSNL at Thuampui locality here earlier.