KARACHI: The state-run Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) has unveiled a roadmap to diversify its services with an aim to generate more revenues.
“In order to diversify its service, expand its business and encourage private sector participation, the PTCL is continuing to expand collaborative business agreements with other companies/service providers/operators,” the company said in its annual report for the period ended June 30, 2003.
Submarine Cable System: On September 4, 2002, PTCL signed a Memorandum of Understanding to jointly construct a new Submarine Cable System SEA-ME-WE-4 from Singapore to France and indicated investment of $40-45 million to the thirteen consortium parties. This system shall link South East Asia, Middle East and Europe. The system shall enhance Company’s capability not only to restore the SEA-ME-WE-3 connectivity but also to offer reliable Voice/Data bandwidth services on International Fibre Optic System at competitive prices.
The allocated capacity in the SEA-ME-WE-3 system will be fully utilised by June 2005. Therefore, an additional investment of US$13 million was made in return for 1.2 Million MIU kms additional capacity, thus increasing the total allocated capacity to 2.88 million MIU Kms.
The company is planning to launch the following IN-based services in the near future:
* Home Country Direct (HCD)
* Pre-Payment Telephony (PPT)
* Telephone Bill Payment (TBP)
* Universal Personal Number (UPN)
* Universal Personal Telephony (UPT)
The company said these initiatives include Prepaid Calling Cards (PPCC), Card Payphones, VoIP, Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL), Wireless Payphone Service (WPS), Global Mobile Personal Communication System (GMPCS), Premium Rate Service (PRS) and the outsourcing PTCL Customer Service Centres.
In the Prepaid Calling Card business, the PTCL now has four partners generating revenue of more than Rs1.2 billion for the Company.
The VoIP service for international incoming voice traffic from USA and Europe commenced in November, 2002 in partnership with overseas companies. The service is being provided nationwide through VoIP platforms installed by 5 companies at Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad, and has brought over 130 million minutes of international voice traffic from USA and Europe uptil June 30, 2003.
ADSL service for high-speed Internet and broadband data was launched in July 2002. Currently, four partners are offering this facility in Lahore, Karachi, Islamabad and Rawalpindi on the PTCL local loop. Card Payphone Service has grown to more than 130,000 payphones in the country.
The number of wireless payphones using WLL technology is now above 9,000 since its launch in May 2002. To encourage the Call Centre business in Pakistan, special incentive packages have been given for toll-free services and the provision of bandwidth.
PTCL has also outsourced 63 Customer Service Centres to the private sector, which has led to an increase in its revenue.
Source: Dawn
Date:11/11/2003
