Universal Service in Pakistan The Broadband Perspective Mudassar Hussain Member Telecom Ministry of Information Technology

Pakistan-Telecom Sector Structure • Principle of separation of Policy, Regulation and Operations • Policy Formulation: – Ministry of Information Technology

• Regulation / Policy Implementation: – Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA)

• Operations: – Private Sector

Legislations and Policies • Telecommunication Sector Governing Legislation – Pakistan Telecommunication (Re-Organization) Act 1996 [Amended 2006] • Telecom Sector Policies – De-Regulation Policy for the Telecom Sector 2003 – Mobile Cellular Policy 2004 – Broadband Policy 2004 – Next Generation Mobile Spectrum Policy 2013 • IT Sector Policies – National IT Policy 2000

All new Integrated Telecom Policy ready for release

Pakistan Telecom Sector – Snapshot (Jul’15) Fixed lines Mobile lines

3.173 Million 116.432 Million

WLL lines

1.687 Million

Total lines

136.726 Million

Combined Teledensity

63.60

Broadband Subscribers

18.002 Million

3G / 4G Subscribers

14.614 Million

Broadband Growth Stats Broadband Subscribers by Technology Technology

DSL

HFC

2006-07

44,669

2007-08

102,910

42,760

2008-09

262,661

2009-10

WiMax

FTTH

EvDO

Others

Mobile BB/3G/4G

Total

484

45,153

19,612

2,800

168,082

36,201

88,477

3,967

22,503

476,722

49,110

257,616

5,002

111,194

1,004

900,648

2010-11

695,245

34,274

428,523

6,346

325,140

1,963

1,491,491

2011-12

880,071

35,520

589,887

8,444

584,459

2,934

2,101,315

2012-13

1,064,003

33,184

575,939

11,152

1,033,513

3,868

2,721,659

2013-14

1,346,817

37,011

530,889

14,848

1,861,118

5,240

3,795,923

2014-15

1,480,672

43,362

487,582

19,490

1,334,725

6,089

13,498,677

16,885,518

Jul-15

1,480,672

43,362

487,582

19,490

1,334,725

6,089

14,614,411

18,001,252

(ref. PTA Telecom Indicators)

413,809

Graphic Representation Total Broadband Subscribers Over the Years 20,000,000 18,000,000

Total Broadband Subscribers

16,000,000 14,000,000 12,000,000 10,000,000 8,000,000 6,000,000 4,000,000

2,000,000 0 2006-07

2007-08

2008-09

2009-10

2010-11

2011-12

Time Period

(ref. PTA Telecom Indicators)

2012-13

2013-14

2014-15

15-Jul

USF Broadband Programme • Broadband emphasis Started in 2009: Telecommunication Infrastructure for Broadband Internet Delivery • Additionally Shared Access Points called Broadband Centers to be established in educational Institutions and Public Places • Targets the Urban Areas of 2nd and 3rd Tier Cities • Technology Neutral Capex+Opex subsidies

Activities Supporting Rural Broadband • Multi Pronged Broadband Strategy of USF Pakistan – USF Broadband Programme – USF Optical Fiber Cable Programme – Internet through Rural Telephony & e-Services Programme

• All these programmes contributing directly or indirectly towards broadband proliferation

USF Broadband Programme Achievements Contracts signed for 543,750 Broadband Subscribers More than 543,750 Broadband Subscribers achieved

1,274 Educational Broadband Centers Established 358 Community Broadband Centers Established

USF Optical Fiber Cable Programme • Started in 2009 with emphasis to extended Fiber foot print across the country for low cost, reliable and scalable backhaul. • Targets the unserved Tehsils* and Major Towns • Prime focus to make these areas Broadband ready and to cater for both the voice and Data traffic * An administrative geographical area

USF Optical Fiber Cable Programme

Achievements

Out of 406 Tehsils, 117 are un-served with respect to optic fiber connectivity

Out of 102 Contracted THQs and Major Towns, 81 have been connected

Internet through Rural Telephony & e-Services Programme • Started in 2008 with emphasis to Provision of basic Telephony and data services to the unserved mauzas* • Majority of Service providers were offering 2g services at 50 Kbps in these mauzas • However In 2014 Government sold the Spectrum to operators for 3G services • USF has also raised the bar and these projects have made mandatory to offer data services at 512 kbps atleast * Smallest revenue unit

Internet through Rural Telephony & e-Services Programme Achievements 10,500 mauzas in 26 Lots Contracts signed for 6,784 mauzas 4,042 mauzas served so far 615 Public Call Offices deployed 52 Telecenters deployed

Internet through Rural Telephony & e-Services Programme • Through two of the recently auctioned projects an unserved population of around 1.2 million, residing in far flung, mostly rural areas, will get the 3G coverage/broadband internet connectivity • In fact all future telephony projects will be offering data services at 512 Kbps

Emphasis on Education + Community For every Higher Sec. School, College and Library in the area: •Free provision/installation •No Monthly charges for 1 year for Broadband connections. •5 PCs Lab •Training of 2 Trainers “Educational Broadband Centers” (EBCs)

Educational Broadband Centers -> Operational : 1045 -> In progress : 128

Community Broadband Centers -> Operational: 298 -> In progress : 47 15

Universal Tele-center Program Computer Training

TELECENTER

• Shared site to provide public access to telecommunications in un-served areas (primarily rural and Semi Urban) E-village

OBJECTIVES Extend broadband to rural areas, to:

• provide distance education & ICT literacy Computer Center

• provide relevant information to people • facilitate e-services in rural areas • create employment/entrepreneurship opportunities

Challenges in Proliferation of Services • • • •

Low Literacy Rate Uneven population density Lack of Local Content Development Infrastructure Development in Rural Areas

Future Plans • Laying of OFC to Union Council Level • Revised Telecom and IT policies – IXP and peering promotion emphasised – Position USF to fund demand side measures – R&D Fund to be used to address application development – Focus on E-services

• Positioning Pakistan into a hub for regional transit traffic

THANK YOU