PTCL blamed for low broadband connection use

Experts in the field of information technology (IT) have underlined the need to make changes in the telecom policies for promotion of IT and Internet in the country. They were speaking at the ConnectIT conference with a theme "Connecting IT & Telecom Technologies" here, recently.
Internet Service Providers Association of Pakistan (ISPAK) president and CyberNet chief operating officer Ansarul Haq, in his presentation on "IT and Internet Initiatives in Pakistan", deplored that use of broadband connection in Pakistan is one of the lowest in the region. He pointed out although the government had announced Pakistan Broadband Policy in November 2004, it is still not effective due to non-user-friendly environment and higher rates.
The broadband connection is still unaffordable in Pakistan, he said, adding the STM-1 tariff for international connection is $76,000, whereas for Karachi-Islamabad, it is $123,500. Similarly, for bulk purchasers, broadband rates are much higher. He said in the revised tariff, the international DS3 price is mentioned as $31,348 per month, and with the same tariff structure, the pricing for the STM-1 should have been $62,696 per month.
But the Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) has fixed it at $76,000. In other words, he said, the bulk purchaser has been put to a disadvantage of $13,304 per month.
When broadband penetrates, it could cause high PC penetration with high computer literacy, large number of broadband cyber cafes for experience, games and video.
Ansar said, for the growth of broadband in Pakistan cost of 100kbps bandwidth should be less than one percent of average monthly income of users.
He criticised PTCL policies and said they are the main impediment in the growth of broadband connection in Pakistan.
In the agreement for a DSL connection, the PTCL put very stringent obligations on users of digital subscriber line (DSL), which make the connection unattractive for a common user.
He said any type of voice, speech, fax and use of compression equipment on DSL system is strictly prohibited. "Then, what is the purpose of getting high-speed DSL connection," he added.
He suggested the government should create an enabling environment for private sector, including the private data gateway. Pakistan should be made part of the global information society, he added.