April-June 2009 2009 Universal Service Fund
1. New Projects c. Project for providing Broadband in Central Punjab (FTR) – April 2009 i. Broadband Program Universal Service Fund awarded first contracts, worth Rs. 1.4 Billion for providing Broadband Services in the Un- a. Project to provide Broadband Services in un- Served Urban areas of Central Punjab (Faisalabad Telecom Region)comprising districts of Faisalabad, Jhang, served urban areas of Southern Punjab (MTR) – June Sargodha, Toba Tek Singh, Khushab, Bhakkar and 2009 Mianwali, excluding the served city of Faisalabad, to PTCL Universal Service Fund signed contract worth Rs. 1.16 and Wateen Telecom on April 27, 2009. Billion for the project to provide broadband in un-served A simple contract signing ceremony was held at Ministry urban areas of Southern Punjab (Multan Telecom Region) of IT marking launch of first ever project of its kind for with PTCL. This project also includes establishment of bringing Broadband to small cities and towns. SEVP Educational Broadband Centres (EBCs) in 206 high- (Corporate Development) - PTCL, Sikandar Naqi and schools, colleges and libraries plus 58 Community General Manager – Wateen Telecom, Furqan Qurehsi, Broadband Centers (CBCs) for those who cannot afford signed the contracts with Chief Executive Officer – USF, PCs. Multan Telecom Region (excluding the city of Parvez Iftikhar. Multan) has 37 cities/towns in 11 districts of FTR has 56 towns and cities of various sizes with numerous potential broadband users like, hospitals, Bahawalnagar, Bahawalpur, D.G. Khan, Khanewal, Leyyah, distance learning centers of Open University, Banks, Lodhran, Multan, Muzaffargarh, Rahim Yar khan, NADRA centers/kiosks, Government Offices, Libraries, Rajanpur and Vehari. Courts, Industries and various other institutions. A major highlight of this project will be the establishment of more b. Project to provide Broadband Services in Lower than 250 Educational Broadband Centres (EBCs) in all the Sindh (STR-1) – June 2009 High-Schools and Colleges in these towns and cities, Contract worth Rs. 550 Million for providing broadband besides more than 100 Community Broadband Centres in Lower Sindh (Southern Telecom Region-1) has been (CBCs) will be set up which will provide Broadband to awarded to PTCL for providing broadband in STR-1 those who cannot afford their own computers. (minus the city of Hyderabad). 82 Educational Broadband Centres (EBCs) and 43 Community Broadband Centers (CBCs) will also be established in 77 un-served towns/cities of STR-1 that lie in the districts of Badin, Dadu, Hyderabad, Jamshoro, Mirpur Khas, Sanghar, Tharparkar, Thatta and Umerkot.
Universal Service Fund For queries please contact Noshin Masud Manager Communications Universal Service Fund 5th Floor, HBL Tower, Jinnah Avenue, Blue Area- Islamabad w w w. u s f . o r g . p k Ph: 051-9212308-9 | Fax: 051-9214261, Email: [email protected] ii. Optic Fiber Program a. Project to provide Optic Fiber Connectivity to Larkana Lot covers 7% of the area and 10% of the total un-served Tehsils in Southern Balochistan – June estimated population of Sindh, and includes 2009 Jacobabad, Larkana and Shikarpur Districts. CEO-PTCL, Contract worth Rs. 1.2 Billion has been awarded to Walid Irshaid signed the contract with Chief Executive PTCL for laying 1,166 Km Optic Fiber cables in Officer, Universal Service Fund, Parvez Iftikhar. Southern Balochistan. This will provide connectivity to the Tehsils of Bela, Pasni, Turbat and Hub Tehsil HQs including Jhal Jao, Awaran, Dureiji, Peerdrk, Dasht, Mehnaz, Buleda, Kalag, Jiwani, Kalatuk, Nodaiz, Hoshab, Nasirabad, Bilecha, Tump, Gwadar, Uthal, Duddar, Kanraj cities. In addition this cable will provide additional link to Gawadar and other coastal towns of Balochistan. b. Project for providing Optic Fiber Connectivity to all Tehsils in Western Balochistan – May 2009 Universal Service Fund awarded another contract worth Rs. 374 million to Wateen Telecom to provide Optic Fiber connectivity to 5 un-served Tehsils of Western Balochistan (Dasht, Noshki, Dalbandin, Mashkhel and Taftan, touching also the cities of Dringar, Ahmadwal, Nokundi and Chaghi) on May 17, 2. Update on earlier Projects 2009. Wateen Telecom shall be laying 900 kilometers of Optic Fiber Cables to connect these Tehsils. General i. First milestone achieved in Manager Wateen Telecom, Mr. Mazhar Qayyum Butt Bahawalpur Lot signed the contract with Chief Executive Officer, Universal Service Fund, Parvez Iftikhar. First project implementation milestone (25%) for Bahawalpur Lot has been achieved covering a total of 72 Muzas in Bahawalnagar, Bahawalpur and Rahim Yar Khan.
iii. Rural Telecom Program a. Project to provide basic telephony & data services in Larkana to PTCL – May 2009 In order to provide basic telephony and data services in un-served areas of Larkana and Shikarpur districts, Universal Service Fund awarded the contract to PTCL on May 17, 2009 (World Telecom Day). A subsidy of Rs. 228 Million is being provided to PTCL for this project for providing services in 72 muzas with a population of 165,000. 2 ii. First milestone achieved in Dadu Lot
First project implementation milestone (25%) for USF Dadu Lot has been achieved covering a total of 101 Muzas in Dadu, Badin, Hyderabad and Thatta.
iii. Technical Audit of 3rd Milestone in DG Khan Lot in progress
Technical audit of 3rd project implementation milestone (75%) for DG Khan is in progress in the 3. New Bids districts of DG Khan, Rajanpur, Layyaah and Muzaffargarh. i. Bids received for providing telecom services in Nasirabad Lot in Balochistan
USF received proposals to provide services in Nasirabad Lot on June 12, 2009. Nasirabad Lot covers roughly 5% of the area of Baluchistan in the Central- East and has 4 districts (Bolan, Jaffarabad, Jhal Magsi and Nasirabad) and 7 Tehsils. 648 muzas and un- served population of around half a million will benefit from this rural telecom project.
ii. Bids received for providing broadband services in Hazara Telecom Region (HTR)
Submission and opening of Technical Proposals for Broadband HTR Region took place on 15th June 2009. Hazara Telecom Region consists of the districts of Abbottabad, Batagram, Haripur, Kohistan and iv. Technical Audit for Sukkur Lot Mansehra. completed HTR, as a whole, has a total area of about 17,500 Sq Kms, a total population (rural + urban) of around 4.4 M. Technical audit for all 4 project implementation This project targets an urban population of 0.6M in 17 milestones (100%) for Sukkur Lot has been completed. Cities/Towns of HTR. PMCL (Mobilink) is covering all the unserved Muzas in Presently both the above mentioned bids are under the districts of Sukkur, Ghotki, Khairpur, Nawabshah evaluation. and Naushehro Feroze. 3 4. Participation in USF Auction Pakistan Telecommunication Company Ltd., has already won more than 50% of the subsidy amount awarded by USF during the period of July 01, 2007 to June 25, 2009. Therefore, according to USF Rules PTCL is not eligible to participate in the auction(s) of the up- coming projects till the other operators win enough bids, so that PTCL's share ratio falls below 50%.
5. Universal Service Fund Former Federal Secretary for Information Technology, celebrated World Telecom Day Hifz-ur-Rehman was of the view that in light of this year's theme for WTIS day, government and industry To commemorate World Telecom and Information must join hands for protecting our youth from Society Day (WTIS) 2009, Universal Service Fund, technology-related threats. together with the Ministry of IT, arranged an event in While giving presentation on the theme for WTIS Day Islamabad which was attended by representatives of 2009, Mr. Mushtaq Ahmed Bhatti, Member (Telecom), telecom industry, public sector and academia. WTIS Ministry of IT, persuaded all the stakeholders to carry theme for this year is 'Protecting children in the WTIS Day theme of the year in their future cyberspace'. programs for combating cyber risks for children. Earlier, CEO of Universal Service Fund, Parvez Iftikhar, while welcoming the audience, stated that this year's WTIS Day is playing a useful role in bringing together all the stakeholders to take concrete steps for ensuring that children access Internet with safety.
The Chief Guest at the event, Engr. Shaukat Ullah, Parliamentary Secretary-Information Technology, while delivering his address said that Government of Pakistan believes that legal, technical and institutional challenges posed by the issues of protecting children in cyber space are global and can only be addressed through a coherent strategy taking into account the role of different stakeholders. He appreciated the efforts of Ministry of Information Technology, to undertake challenging and productive programs in the future for the promotion of ICTs especially for safeguarding our children in Cyberspace.
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