Chairman Pakistan Telecommunication Authority, Dr Mohammed Yaseen visited Special Communication Organisation (SCO) Sector Headquarter, Muzzafarabad, to launch "Cellular Village Connection Trial" in the Neelum Valley. SCO Sector Commander, Colonel Shafqat gave briefing to Chairman PTA on the starting of cellular services, said a press release received here on Friday.
PTA will act as a facilitator between SCO and Huawei to carry out a GSM cellular village connection trial in the area initially on trial basis for sixth months. This would only be continued in the areas that will be identified as secure for such services, based on the lessons learnt from the trial. The plan of the PTA is a unique model, which will educate the industry of secure border communications.
Chairman PTA said that elaborate efforts are being made to provide enhanced telecom services including mobile and fixed communications to the far-flung areas of the country. He showed satisfaction on the launch of mobile services in Neelum Valley on trial basis and hoped that by the beginning of the next year, complete GSM mobile services would be available to the people of the valley.
Dr Mohammed Yaseen said that cellular village connection is a new concept especially designed to expand cellular services in those areas where it is not possible to provide the services due to tough terrain, closed proximity with the borders areas, feasibility concerns, low population, cost of deployment and year round maintenance etc.
Expressing his views, Sector Commander SCO said that the successful launching of the trial plan depicts the deep concern and firm commitment of PTA towards the expansion of the services throughout Pakistan. After the visit of Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani of Neelum Valley, PTA responded very effectively and swiftly to the directives of the PM and popular demand of masses of the area and initiated the plan of trials by offering cellular operators of AJK to participate in the CVCT.-PR