Our Brief History: SCO was raised in July 1976 on the directive of the then Prime Minister of the Pakistan with the objective "to develop telecom facilities in the mountainous regions of Azad Jammu & Kashmir and Northern Areas duly catering for the security aspects".
SCO at the time of its infancy took over 5 exchanges of small capacity and a network of Permanent Line (PL) routes from then T&T Department. Over the years, SCO expanded the cable networks and telephone exchanges (mostly manual) and spread its presence to the remote and far-flung locations in AJ&K and Northern Areas.
With the passage of time, PL routes were replaced / augmented with microwave (MW) and digital exchanges of varying capacity were installed. OFC was introduced in SCO area of responsibility in the year 2004 and gradually most PL routes have been replaced with OFC, MW and satellite linkages as the media to interconnect various locations and the backhaul with mainland Pakistan, SCO has developed an elaborate media both backhaul and the arteries / spurs across the length and breadth of the area of responsibility.
During the initial 28 years SCO mostly planned and provided PSTN facility as the mainstay of communication Gradually the provision of PSTN (copper based line comm) is becoming commercially non viable due to ever increasing costs of copper wires, its laying and maintenance, SCO made a humble start in the wireless based technology by setting up a 50000 line GSM system in 2004. During the recent years both GSM and CDMA networks, which are more economical, easier to establish/maintain and require minimum manpower, have been expanded in the area of responsibility. The wireless network of SCO (both GSM and CDMA) is one of the largest in the area covering the entire region of SCO's operation.
Recently, CO on the express desire of local governments in AJ&K and Norhtern Areas has gone in to provide the data services (both broadband and dial-up) in AJ&K and Norhtern Areas employing state-of-the-art technology with the brand name Snet. The service is being offered at a much cheaper rates in comparison with other operators. On completion of 32 years of its dedication, SCO is proud to be the largest LDI operators having elaborate PSTN network and is offering GSM, WLL and data services to its valued customers.
During the past few years, SCO has made remarkable progress in its telecom infrastructure both qualitatively and coverage area. Today SCO has its own international Gateway Exchange and a Satellite Earth Station linking AJ&K and Northern Areas with the globe. SCO has an elaborate large capacity network of OFC/MW/Satellite which not only can meet intrinsic requirements of SCO but can also match the needs of other telecom operators.
The PSTN switches and Out Side Plant (through no more an economically viable facility) have been installed throughout the area bringing the number of location being served by digital exchanges to 187, an indicator that SCO is charged with the spirit of serving the people without much financial benefit. The GSM services of SCO after recent expansion in AJ&K and Pioneering GSM / expansion in Northern Areas covers almost 80% of the area in order to facilitate SCOM subscribers to use their mobile phone in Pakistan. SCO is offering them roaming facility without any additional cost.
We were the pioneers to provide digital communication to the people of these far-flung areas who were previously deprived of even common telecom services functioning in rest of the country. We are the single largest organisation having provided all kinds of modern telecom facilities including PSTN, GSM, CDMA, Internet and Special Calling Cards in AJ&K and Northern Areas. We bow our heads in humility to Almighty Allah for all the success bestowed on SCO in the past and promise that we shall remain committed to serve the people of our area as per the vision statement of SCO.
OUR PRIME SERVICES:
-- SCO PSTN SCO Fixed Line Phone Service
-- SCOM
-- SCO GSM Mobile
-- Service
-- WLL Phone
-- Services
-- SCO CDMA - AJ&K
-- Northern Wireless - Northern Areas
-- Snet
-- Dial-up and
-- Broadband
-- Internet Service
-- Special Calling
-- Cards
-- Prepaid Calling Cards
-- Or PSTN Connections
-- DXX
-- Digital Cross Connect
-- Services