Immediate telecom links restoration needed in quake-hit areas

ISLAMABAD—Thanks to swift and combined response of the government, private companies and international community, the telecom infrastructure has been restored to ensure accelerated relief activities in the quake-stricken zone.
The complete repair and rehabilitation of the telecommunication network in Azad Kashmir and Northern Areas was in full swing and the whole system would become operational within a few days.
The restoration of telecommunications links is extremely critical for supporting the disaster relief operations in the earthquake struck region and the government is doing all to put these links completely back in place.
The devastating earthquake on October 8 that ravaged a large swathe of population also damaged 48 of 132 total telephone exchanges operating in AJK region.
As a consequence, the number of disrupted lines was 20,173 out of total 104,433 installed lines in the area. Moreover, 10 microwave stations also got disrupted as a result of the deadly earthquake.
The government launched the repair work immediately after the quake and all the exchanges in AJK had been repaired resulting in restoration of telephone lines.
Among the 10 microwave stations, only one was yet to be operational. In the Northern Areas where telecom services are provided by Special Communication Organization, 635 out of 24,249 installed lines were disrupted but all of them were restored promptly on October 10.
Similarly, earthquake also caused serious damage to the PTCL telecommunication network in Hazara Telecom Region (HTR) where 19 exchanges were rendered out of service affecting a total number of 13,902 lines. All the telephone exchanges have been restored, resulting in restoration of phone lines.
A repeater at Tundi had also been repaired and the new containerized exchange had also been installed and commissioned to help restore 300 broken lines.
The Peshawar-Abbotabad route had also been enhanced with 60 additional circuits to take over-flow traffic of Muzaffarabad. The PTCL, besides rectifying faults in the telephone lines, had also donated 50 satellite-phone terminals for use in AJK. Around 43 free satellite-phone PCOs were also currently operating in the affected area while another 15 satellite telephone terminals obtained from ITU had also been dispatched for installation in the affected areas.
Similarly, PTCL provided 1170 additional circuits to connect to SCO network in the AJK area. The communication system in the region had been boosted by 45 outgoing and 17 incoming free PCOs set up by PTCL in the region.
The telecommunication industry in the country is also showing generous response to the disaster and to work together to prepare a coordinated response to the disaster is also quite satisfying.
The telecom sector has so far donated more than Rs. 500 million to support the government in its relief and rehabilitation efforts for the quake victims.
Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) contributed Rs. 200 million to relief fund and sent relief goods to Balakot, Muzaffarabad, Rawalakot and Bagh.
"The enormity of the task in front of us is such that we are glad to accept all offers of assistance, in particular for telecommunications services, since without information, it is next to impossible to coordinate the relief effort," said Minister for IT and Telecom, Awais Ahmed Khan Leghari who is personally supervising the restoration task.
He said World Economic Forum had also offered assistance for restoring the telecom links in the quake-hit region and shortly their experts will be visiting Pakistan to have feasibility and deployment of wireless based infrastructure.
The government also permitted private mobile companies to launch their services to facilitate the people of far flung areas of northern region and AJK. Now cellular phone companies have extended their services to quake-hit capital of AJK and other areas which is a great help to the suffered people.These companies have also set-up free PCOs in the affected areas to facilitate the victims.—APP