Universal Service in Pakistan The Broadband Perspective

Mudassar Hussain Member Telecom

Ministry of Information Technology

• Principle of separation of Policy, Regulation and Operations

• Policy Formulation:

– Ministry of Information Technology

• Regulation / Policy Implementation:

– Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA)

• Operations:

– Private Sector

Pakistan-Telecom Sector Structure

• Telecommunication Sector Governing Legislation

– Pakistan Telecommunication (Re-Organization) Act 1996 [Amended 2006]

• Telecom Sector Policies

– De-Regulation Policy for the Telecom Sector 2003

– Mobile Cellular Policy 2004

– Broadband Policy 2004

– Next Generation Mobile Spectrum Policy 2013

• IT Sector Policies

– National IT Policy 2000

Legislations and Policies

All new Integrated Telecom Policy ready for release

Pakistan Telecom Sector – Snapshot (Jul’15)

Fixed lines 3.173 Million

Mobile lines 116.432 Million

WLL lines 1.687 Million

Total lines 136.726 Million

Combined Teledensity 63.60

Broadband Subscribers 18.002 Million

3G / 4G Subscribers 14.614 Million

Broadband Growth Stats

Broadband Subscribers by Technology

Technology DSL HFC WiMax FTTH EvDO Others Mobile

BB/3G/4G

Total

2006-07 44,669 484 45,153

2007-08 102,910 42,760 19,612 2,800 168,082

2008-09 262,661 36,201 88,477 3,967 22,503 413,809

2009-10 476,722 49,110 257,616 5,002 111,194 1,004 900,648

2010-11 695,245 34,274 428,523 6,346 325,140 1,963 1,491,491

2011-12 880,071 35,520 589,887 8,444 584,459 2,934 2,101,315

2012-13 1,064,003 33,184 575,939 11,152 1,033,513 3,868 2,721,659

2013-14 1,346,817 37,011 530,889 14,848 1,861,118 5,240 3,795,923

2014-15 1,480,672 43,362 487,582 19,490 1,334,725 6,089 13,498,677 16,885,518

Jul-15 1,480,672 43,362 487,582 19,490 1,334,725 6,089 14,614,411 18,001,252

(ref. PTA Telecom Indicators)

Graphic Representation

(ref. PTA Telecom Indicators)

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2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 15-Jul

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Total Broadband Subscribers Over the Years

USF Broadband Programme

• Broadband emphasis Started in 2009: Telecommunication Infrastructure for Broadband Internet Delivery

• Additionally Shared Access Points called Broadband Centers to be established in educational Institutions and Public Places

• Targets the Urban Areas of 2nd and 3rd Tier Cities

• Technology Neutral Capex+Opex subsidies

Activities Supporting Rural Broadband

• Multi Pronged Broadband Strategy of USF Pakistan

– USF Broadband Programme

– USF Optical Fiber Cable Programme

– Internet through Rural Telephony & e-Services Programme

• All these programmes contributing directly or indirectly towards broadband proliferation

USF Broadband Programme

Contracts signed for

543,750 Broadband

Subscribers

More than 543,750 Broadband Subscribers

achieved

1,274 Educational

Broadband Centers

Established

358 Community

Broadband Centers

Established

Achievements

USF Optical Fiber Cable Programme

• Started in 2009 with emphasis to extended Fiber foot print across the country for low cost, reliable and scalable backhaul.

• Targets the unserved Tehsils* and Major Towns

• Prime focus to make these areas Broadband ready and to cater for both the voice and Data traffic

* An administrative geographical area

USF Optical Fiber Cable Programme

Achievements

Out of 406 Tehsils, 117 are

un-served with respect to

optic fiber connectivity

Out of 102 Contracted THQs

and Major Towns, 81 have

been connected

Internet through Rural Telephony & e-Services Programme

• Started in 2008 with emphasis to Provision of basic Telephony and data services to the unserved mauzas*

• Majority of Service providers were offering 2g services at 50 Kbps in these mauzas

• However In 2014 Government sold the Spectrum to operators for 3G services

• USF has also raised the bar and these projects have made mandatory to offer data services at 512 kbps atleast

* Smallest revenue unit

Internet through Rural Telephony & e-Services Programme

Achievements 10,500 mauzas

in 26 Lots

Contracts

signed for 6,784

mauzas

4,042 mauzas

served so far

615 Public Call

Offices

deployed

52 Telecenters

deployed

Internet through Rural Telephony & e-Services Programme

• Through two of the recently auctioned projects an unserved population of around 1.2 million, residing in far flung, mostly rural areas, will get the 3G coverage/broadband internet connectivity

• In fact all future telephony projects will be offering data services at 512 Kbps

For every Higher Sec. School, College and Library in the area:

•Free provision/installation

•No Monthly charges for 1 year for Broadband connections.

•5 PCs Lab

•Training of 2 Trainers

15

Educational Broadband Centers -> Operational : 1045

-> In progress : 128

“Educational Broadband Centers” (EBCs)

Emphasis on Education + Community

Community Broadband Centers -> Operational: 298

-> In progress : 47

Universal Tele-center Program

TELECENTER

• Shared site to provide public access to

telecommunications in un-served areas

(primarily rural and Semi Urban)

OBJECTIVES

Extend broadband to rural areas, to:

• provide distance education & ICT literacy

• provide relevant information to people

• facilitate e-services in rural areas

• create employment/entrepreneurship

opportunities

Computer Center

E-village

Computer Training

Challenges in Proliferation of Services

• Low Literacy Rate

• Uneven population density

• Lack of Local Content Development

• Infrastructure Development in Rural Areas

Future Plans • Laying of OFC to Union Council Level

• Revised Telecom and IT policies – IXP and peering promotion emphasised

– Position USF to fund demand side measures

– R&D Fund to be used to address application development

– Focus on E-services

• Positioning Pakistan into a hub for regional transit traffic

THANK YOU