Two cellular companies get contract for hi-speed broadband in ‘Kurram, Sanghar Lots’

• The contracts for high-speed broadband were given to Telenor and PMCL (Jazz) companies in ‘Sanghar and Kurram Lots’, respectively at the cost of Rs 680 million.
• The Lot consisted of Sanghar and Umerkot districts with an approximate unserved area of 12,000 sq. km and 500 unserved mauzas.
• He also acknowledged other board members’ valuable contribution to make advancements in implementation of the USF projects.

ISLAMABAD: Universal Service Fund (USF) Board Wednesday approved to award contracts to two cellular companies for operating Hi-Speed Broadband in ‘Kurram and Sanghar Lots’ under Next Generation Broadband for Sustainable Development (NG-BSD) Programme.

The decision to this effect was taken during the 68th Board of Directors of USF Company, chaired by Federal Secretary Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication Shoaib Ahmad Siddiqui, said a press release here.

Chairman PTA Maj Gen (R) Amir Azeem Bajwa was also present in the meeting. The contracts for high-speed broadband were given to Telenor and PMCL (Jazz) companies in ‘Sanghar and Kurram Lots’, respectively at the cost of Rs 680 million.

This is part of the inclusive approach of the government and to strengthen the pillar of connectivity under digital Pakistan. The Chairman USF Board was told that the Hi-speed Broadband services in Kurram Lot would benefit an un-served population of approximately 400,000, covering 200 unserved muazas and an approximate unserved area of 2,900 sq. km. Kurram Lot encompassed Frontier Region Kurram, Lower Kurram and Upper Kurram tehsils.

The secretary was apprised that an unserved population of approximately 1.4 million would gain advantage from Hi-speed Broadband services in Sanghar Lot.

The Lot consisted of Sanghar and Umerkot districts with an approximate unserved area of 12,000 sq. km and 500 unserved mauzas. Shoaib Ahmad Siddiqui emphasized on connecting the people of Pakistan who did not have access to latest ICT facilities.

He said these projects would bring the living standards of people of Kurram and Sanghar at par with the wider society and would be helpful in solving the problems of illiteracy, poverty and unemployment.

He welcomed the prime minister’s most recent expression of support for the continued and ongoing work of Digital Pakistan.

The chairman said the Ministry of IT and Telecom was committed to support and encourage the implementation of vision.

He also acknowledged other board members’ valuable contribution to make advancements in implementation of the USF projects.

Other board members comprising Shabahat Ali Shah, Executive Director, NITB; Ifran Wahab, CEO-Telenor Cluster Head for Emerging Asia and Nominee of Mobile Cellular Operators; Imran Akhtar Shah, VP for Government Sales, Super Net Pvt Ltd and Nominee of Data Licensees; Rashid Khan, CEO PTCL and Nominee of Fixed Line Operators; Kaukab Iqbal, Chairman, Consumer Association of Pakistan and Nominee of Consumer Group and management of USF Co. also attended the meeting.