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PTCL
cuts bandwidth rates by 50% to attract investment
February 2,
2005. Daily Times
By
Imran Ayub
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_2-2-2005_pg5_11
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KARACHI:
Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) has cut
bandwidth rates by almost 50 percent for technology firms – a
move believed to attract foreign investment particularly
in call centres.
The state-owned telecom decided to revise bandwidth tariff structure after
ministry of IT and telecom announced broadband policy last month to spread
affordable high speed Internet access and create enabling environment for
efficient business transactions, a senior official said.
“The PTCL has cut its bandwidth rates from $3,950 per 2 mega bites per
month to $2,000,” the official said. “The new rates would be effective
from January 1. The decision is in line with government plans to encourage investors
and grow Internet subscriber base across the country.”
He said the PTCL has also cut monthly copper rental for digital subscriber
linkage (DSL) to Rs 250 per month from Rs 771 and similarly monthly primary
rate interface (PRI) has also been brought down by 50 percent and domestic
bandwidth rates by 25 percent of the existing prices to facilitate peering
services.
The federal cabinet last month approved a broadband policy in a bid to
increase Internet subscriber base and provide high-speed connectivity across
the country.
DSL based broadband is a modern technology that converts existing twisted
pair telephone lines into access path for high-speed communication of various
sorts. By using the technology regular telephone line can be converted
into a high-speed broadband digital link.
The PTCL official said the recent cut in bandwidth rates would also attract
investors to set up call centres – the fastest growing part of the
IT industry in South Asia.
Significant growth: “Pakistan has witnessed over 50 percent growth
in call centres during last one year,” said the official. “The
enhanced bandwidth tariff was much demanded by the call centre operators
and following new rates announcement the PTCL is expecting to register
rapid growth in its bandwidth sales and services.”
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