Indo-Pak communication to become cheaper with first fibre link starting Thursday

Communication between India and Pakistan would become easier and cheaper from Thursday, when the first direct fibre optic link between the two countries will start functioning.

Lahore, May 1 : Communication between India and Pakistan would become easier and cheaper from Thursday, when the first direct fibre optic link between the two countries will start functioning.

Sources in the PTCL (Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited) said this here last evening.

"The cable will join the two arch rivals through Wagah Border. It will provide an additional link for faster data and voice communication. It will benefit the people of the two countries because it will help reduce call rates," the Daily Times quoted the sources as saying.

PTCL completed laying the fibre optic cable in April 2006 and only needed government's approval to open the link with India. "PTCL senior officials and staff of Optical Fibre Network Solution Central will make the link operational at Wagah," a PTCL official said.

In February 2006, Pakistani Information Technology Ministry had directed PTCL to carry out a survey for the project. OFNSC was tasked with completing the project.

A coaxial cable was already operating between the two countries. The fibre optic cable will improve the data and voice communication speed.

Pakistan will also get an additional link for its international communication. "Currently, Pakistan is linked through South East Asia, the Middle East and Western Europe-3 (SEAMEWE-3) and SEAMEWE-4. The new cable will provide an additional link with other countries," the sources said, adding that the link would also reduce call rates for India.

They added: "Currently, data traffic between the two countries is routed through landing stations in a third country, which drives up cost."

Federal Information Technology Minister Awais Ahmed Khan Leghari said the delay was from the Indian side because "they were reluctant in starting the link because of pressure from their corporate sector".

The minister said Pakistan's corporate sector would also benefit from the link because it had only two submarine links now. "In case the two links are disturbed the third one will keep us in contact with the world. India has six submarine cable links. Pakistan will be able to use these links," Leghari said.

ANI