[Pakistan] Communication network in remote areas planned

["Irfan Khan" <khania@super.net.pk>]

------- Forwarded message follows -------
From:           	"SDNP Info" <info@isb.sdnpk.org>
To:             	"Comp-list" <comp-list@isb.sdnpk.org>
Date sent:      	Fri, 12 Apr 2002 14:48:26 +0500


Communication network in remote areas planned
The News, By Imran Ayub, 12/4/2002

http://www.jang-group.com/thenews/apr2002-daily/12-04-
2002/business/b12.htm

KARACHI: The Ministry of Science and Technology has approved setting 
up communications network in the remote areas of the country in a bid 
to provide and facilitate mode of communications including telephone, 
fax and Internet, said the official sources on Thursday. The Ministry 
has assigned the task to National Telecommunication Corporation 
(NTC), the sources said adding it had already sought Expressions of 
Interest from the interested parties.  

Initially the NTC sought EoIs for the installation of Very Small 
Aperture Terminal (VSAT) in these areas, but it was also giving 
consideration to other options as well because installation of VSAT 
cost more, the sources added. They informed that the Ministry had 
allocated Rs1 billion for the project to spread communication network 
to some 500 remote areas of all the four provinces of the country.  

As the other option the Corporation was considering installing 500 
telephone exchanges in these areas which might have lower cost than 
VSAT. However, sources said the NTC had invited EoIs for VSAT from 
national and international firms. The communications system would 
provide telephone and data access to the remote areas of the country 
not currently being served by any means of communication.  

The Pakistan Telecommunication Limited (PTCL) was also making working 
arrangements for the project, added the sources. The VSAT would be 
integrated into public switch telephone network (PSTN) for access to 
all subscribers in the PTCL and NTC networks. The VSAT network may 
also be used to provide business services to the areas that would be 
brought in the network. The network will have several hundreds of 
terminals each with different configuration.  

The sources said that such an installation would greatly help in the 
development of these areas, which as far as communication was 
concerned remained in dark, as they lack even the telephone facility. 
On the other hand, the sources said the provision of communications 
network in remote parts of the country would also give a boost to the 
Information Technology in both educational and financial sectors.  



------- End of forwarded message -------