*KARACHI:* Special Communication Organisation (SCO) and PakistanTelecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) have signed an agreement toprovide connectivity between China and major international destinationstransiting through Pakistan.
The signing ceremony was held at Pak-China Friendship Centre during theinauguration of Pakistan-China Optical Fibre Cable (OFC) laid by SCO. PrimeMinister of Pakistan Justice (r) Nasirul Mulk, SCO Director General MajorGeneral Amir Azeem Bajwa, PTCL President and CEO Dr Daniel Ritz, ChineseAmbassador to Pakistan Yao Jing, China Telecom Global Limited CEO Deng XiaoFeng and other dignitaries attended the prestigious ceremony.
SCO’s Pakistan-China OFC is 820-kilometre-long stretching from Rawalpindito Khunjerab establishing new cross-border connectivity with China and ispart of China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project led by Governmentof Pakistan and China.
SCO Director Pak-China OFC Col Waseem Ahmad (r) and PTCL Chief BusinessServices Officer Adil Rashid signed the agreement between SCO and PTCL. Aspart of this agreement, SCO shall provide capacities on its OFC networkbetween Pak-China Khunjrab border and Rawalpindi, whereas PTCL shallprovide connectivity from Rawalpindi to major international destinationsthrough Karachi and Gwadar using its long-haul network infrastructure andPTCL submarine cable network.
The fibre optic cable connects Rawalpindi with Khunjerab at a height of4,700 metres, making it the highest fibre cable project globally.
The cable will be further extended to Gwadar which will fully connect bothChina and Pakistan.
This is amongst the only information and communication technology (ICT)project under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and is part ofthe early harvest programme.
The projects total cost is projected at $44 million and 85 per cent of theloan has been provided by Exim Bank of China at a discounted rate.
The engineering, procurement and construction (ECP) have been carried outby Huawei and the owner of this project is SCO.
The fibre optic pipeline project commenced in March 2016 and concluded inJune this year. The cable extends over a distance of 820 km and has 26microwave transmission nodes from Rawalpindi to Karimabad and 171 km ofaerial fibre cable from Karimabad to Khunjerab as a back-up.
It will provide direct connectivity between Pakistan, Middle Asia and EastAsia and reduce the possibility of disruption to international traffic.
Also, the cable would have multiple international links with the new Gwadarlanding station to decrease disconnectivity problems.
On the occasion, Dr Daniel Ritz said, “PTCL has been connecting the nationsince 1947 and we are glad to be part of this important initiative creatinga positive regional impact. With the signing of Pakistan-China OpticalFibre Cable agreement, PTCL will contribute further to the economicdevelopment and prosperity of Pakistan.”
Major General Amir Azeem Bajwa also sharing his views, expressed that“Pakistan and China have a long history of friendship and brotherhood. Weare happy to see that we have taken this major step to further strengthenour relationship by connecting the world through our respective countries.”
SCO and PTCL collaboration will allow Chinese carriers to connect toneighbouring countries including Iran and Afghanistan through terrestrialOFC link and major African and European destinations through PTCL submarinecables infrastructure.