| Daily Times - Site Edition | Friday, April 20, 2012 |
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Pakistan transforming into regional hub of data traffic: PTA chief
Staff Report
KARACHI: Pakistan is moving towards the regional hub of Internet gateway as advanced network deployment has connected it with neighbouring states for facilitating high data and voice traffic.
Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) Chairman Dr Yaseen stated this in a media briefing on the sidelines of the Telecon conference held at a local hotel on Thursday.
Pakistan has deployed its networks on Iran and Afghanistan borders whereas it is being connected with China in the near future. The strategic location and availability of the networks have empowered it to play an extremely important role in the region and world.
The PTA chief said that Pakistan needs advancement in technology for promoting living standards of the masses and economic activities in the country because information and communications technology (ICT) services enabled every sector to boost its capacity and efficiency at the lowest cost.
He suggested that the policymakers should prioritise ICT sector for the development of the country and provide relief from the high taxes on different services in the telecom sector.
“The ICT services are important to every person in the country because it is now an essential need of every individual in life and business, hence the utility of ICT services are on the rise in the country,” Dr Yaseen added. Regarding 3G, Dr Yaseen added that PTA is looking for a consulting firm to transparently conduct the auction of the licence, which is expected to be carried out before the end of current fiscal year.
He expressed his hope that the new and existing players are keen to acquire 3G licence in the biggest subscribers market with the aim to explore unprecedented business opportunities. Afterwards, 3G will not only open the doors of new business for cellular operators and ICT companies but will improve the productivity of every sector, he believed.
He said the telecom sector has been witnessing expansion in business, operations and subscribers so all these indicators also reflect upon their revenue growth despite the prevailing economic situation of the country.
The PTA chief said that authorities along with telecom operators have introduced new SIM activation process in the country, which will purify the data of subscribers at the maximum level. In this regard, the misuse of telephony services will be stopped particularly in criminal and anti-social activities security.
Universal Service Fund (USF) CEO Riaz Asher Siddique said that Pakistan’s 90 percent area has been laid out with basic infrastructure of telecom whereas the organisation is working for access to a few areas of Balochistan and KP province.
He added that USF is educating masses and promoting technology through different projects including Telecentre and Telemedicine.