PAKISTAN ‐ OFC AND BROADBAND PROLIFERATION ESCAP- EXPERT CONSULTATION ON THE ASIAN INFORMATION AND REGIONAL CONNECTIVITY BAKU 3-4 DECEMBER 2013 YASIR QADIR MINISTRY OF IT PAKISTAN
Background • Telecom Sector was De ‐ regulated in 2003 • Tele density has grown from 3% at that time to presently 77.5% • Sector dominated by voice services particularly GSM mobile (approx 72 %) • De ‐ regulation resulted in deploying of OFC by private operators mainly for long haul connectivity • Very low OFC deployment in access side other than highly populated urban centers • Universal Service Fund was established in 2006
Universal Service Fund • Universal Service Fund promotes the development of telecommunication services in un ‐ served and under ‐ served areas throughout the length and breadth of the country. • Major programs: – Rural telephony – OFC – Broadband Proliferation – Tele ‐ centers (Recent initiative)
Challenges • Low Literacy Rate • Uneven population density • Lack of Local Content Development • Infrastructure Development in Rural Areas
Optic Fibers in unserved areas (2006) No of Un ‐ Served Tehsils 18 5 45 Served areas 47 Balochistan KPK Punjab Sind Unserved areas 5
Optic Fibers ‐ mainly in Balochistan 6
So far 76 Tehsils and towns have Optic Fibers ‐ 11 ‘Packages’ been served with help of 4,983 Kms of Cables Advertised for bids. Ready For Work in Advertisement progress in 5. 7
Fiber Optic Coverage in Pakistan • Total No. of Tehsils in Pakistan: 406 • Total No. of Un ‐ served Tehsils:115 • OFC Coverage : 71 %
Broadband program • Division of Pakistan in Telecom regions • For 2 nd and 3 rd tier towns • Community Broadband centers • Educational broadband centers – Higher secondary schools Currently, 2.9 million broadband subscribers
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11 Regions Broadband Program Work ‐ in ‐ progress in 6 Regions Another 2 Regions advertised 11
Emphasis on Education + Community For every Higher Sec. School, College and Library in the area: • Free provision/installation Educational Broadband • No Monthly charges for 1 Centers year for Broadband connections. ‐ > Operational : 1045 ‐ > In progress : 128 • 5 PCs Lab • Training of 2 Trainers Community Broadband Centers ‐ > Operational: 298 “Educational Broadband Centers” (EBCs) ‐ > In progress : 47 12
Universal Tele ‐ center Program Computer Training TELECENTER Shared site to provide public access to • telecommunications in un ‐ served areas (primarily rural and Semi Urban) E-village OBJECTIVES Extend broadband to rural areas, to: provide distance education & ICT literacy • Computer Center provide relevant information to people • facilitate e ‐ services in rural areas • create employment/entrepreneurship opportunities •
Pakistan’s Global Connectivity • Pakistan is currently connected to the world through – SEA ‐ ME ‐ WE ‐ 3 &4 Submarine Cables – Trans World Asia (TWA ‐ 1)
Plans • Laying of OFC to Union Council Level (3 ‐ 5 years) ‐ further division of tehsils • Spectrum Auction for Next Generation mobile services • IT policy to address application development • E ‐ services • International connectivity ‐ ‐ bi ‐ lateral links
THANK YOU
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