In a significant development, outgoing Federal Minister for Information and Communication Technology Dr Umar Saif on Wednesday announced the government’s successful plan to metamorphose Pakistan’s fiber optic network into a global digital gateway. It is expected that this revolutionary project will bring huge economic benefits, amounting to millions of dollars. Addressing a high-level meeting attended by key stakeholders including Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), Special Communication Organisation, Pakistan Telecommunication Company Ltd (PTCL), TransWorld and CyberNet, Dr Saif highlighted that all infrastructure and facilities have been provided important to the company. digital gateway initiative.
Dr Saif announced the possibility of connecting the existing fiber optic infrastructure, stretching from Karachi to Gwadar, with the global water cable. This alliance is ready to open digital opportunities in the Middle East, Central Asia, China and Europe, all at competitive rates.
The minister explained the work of the Council Facilitation Council platform and the success of the project. He also shared his views on ongoing discussions with global companies such as Google and Meta, suggesting a positive development in global networking for Pakistan.
Currently, Pakistan has nearly 180,000 fiber optic cables and 6,000 mobile towers. Ongoing work aims to increase the installation of fiber optic cables to 300,000 kilometers and 20,000 telephone towers, guaranteeing better connections and improved Internet services for consumers. This ambitious expansion is in line with Pakistan’s vision to establish itself as a key player in the global digital space.
