Cellular tele-density in Balochistan grows to 34.3pc

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Cellular tele-density in Balochistan grows to 34.3pc

Saturday, July 10, 2010

KARACHI: Cellular tele-density in Balochistan has increased to 34 3 percent in March against 0.17 percent in 2002 following numerous development projects, a senior official of Pakistan Telecommunication Authority said.

During the last two years, the overall tele-density of the province has also grown from 29.3 percent in 2008 to 36.86 percent in May, said Dr Mohammed Yaseen, Chairman, PTA.

The total number mobile phone subscribers in Balochistan during the last eight years increased from 12,539 in 2002 to 2.8 million in May, showing an immense growth rate, which in 2003 had reached the highest level of 600.8 percent, he said.

Addressing a Telecom Consumer Forum, organised by the PTA in Quetta, Minister of State for Industries and Production Dr Ayatullah Durrani said that Balochistan is gaining a lot of ground through implementation of increased network coverage.

The major share in this enhanced network coverage has been that of the mobile sector, while Wireless Local Loop (WLL) services have also fared well in the province, he said.

Yaseen said that the Wireless Local Loop (WLL) is also showing positive growth patterns in this area. The total WLL subscribers in Balochistan as of March stood at 109,079 and the total number of Local Loop (LL) subscribers stood at 98,511 in March).

The PTA chairman said that the fibre optic is being laid from Balochistan to connect Iran and Afghanistan, while it has also been laid across Balochistan to provide telecom access to the local population.

The authority has taken a number of consumer-oriented initiatives to safeguard and promote consumer rights, he said.

Universal Service Fund (USF) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Parvez Iftikhar said that the fund has started projects worth Rs5.87 billion in Balochistan, which would help provide telecom services to the far-flung areas of Balochistan. This would bring economic betterment in the area.

Consumer representative Surraiya Allahdin appreciated the role of the PTA in focusing on consumer issues.

She said that the usage of Internet must be checked and objectionable sites should be banned.

The complaints lodging mechanism, especially of Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) may be improved.

Cellular tele-density in Balochistan grows to 34.3pc