ISPAK rejects Pakistan Telecom claim
KARACHI- The Internet Service Providers Association of Pakistan (ISPAK), has categorically rejected the Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) claim that it had restored the international optic fibre link in seven hours and thirty minutes, on April 4.
ISPAK said that the disconnection lasted for about 24 hours, which paralysed the entire operation of ISP’s in the country. The PTCL is hiding the facts with ISP’s.
The ISPAK has again demanded of the government to appoint an Independent Inquiry Commission, to probe into negligence of company’s timely detection of attacks on STM-I, the main source of country’s connectivity internationally.
Speaking at a press conference here on April 17, 2003, V. A. Abidi, Secretary of ISPAK emphasised the need of drastic measures to alleviate sufferings of more than 2 million ISPs and other service users, besides restoring public confidence, which was visibly shaken in the wake of this incident and the negligence of PTCL authorities to take prompt cognisance of this incident.
He said, the government had not allowed ISP’s to start their satellite based Internet operation, which shows that the telecom deregulation policy is not that much open as it should be.
The 155 MB could never be substituted by a 34 MB link how can it be possible for ISP to provide uninterrupted service to its corporate client, he added.
Abidi said, the entire country is linked with only one router (Gateway), which does not serve the purpose and need to have an additional router to deal with such situation, he said adding that our neighbouring country has two alternative routers.
He further said, the Internet service has become a serious business in the world as most corporate clients like bank, satellite channels and operators, newspapers and others were relying totally on this service, which the PTCL cannot understand.
The gravity of the situation could be measured by PTCL, he added. He said, the STM-I is under constant Denial of Service (DoS) attack for last 2 weeks by the organised hackers supposedly, known enemies. The DoS attacks still continue to occur, he pointed out.
He appreciated the Federal Minister of Information Technology & Telecom, Awais Laghari for his directives of April 16, partially meeting suggestions submitted to the Minister by ISPAK through a letter on April 12, but demanded immediate action from the Government side.
The government should take action for the restoration of public confidence and safeguarding the national image and constitute an independent inquiry commission into the matter and members of such commission must also be taken from all walk of life, Abidi added.
He said, in last two weeks it was observed that the PTCL is quite helpless and unable to face these Denial of Service (DoS) attacks. The PTCL for a change, is frank and open, they are willing to accept help from any quarter. Unfortunately, it is too late and with little options, he pointed. Punitive
Abidi said, the only thing they can do is to seek the help of Flag an so-called alternative company have router who deal traffic between Karachi and Al-Fujera, in UAE.
The PTCL switch all of its traffic to that bandwidth available at Flag, as agreed and get rid immediately of pie to overcome the immediate problem faced by it.
He further said, the mess was created by PTCL against the advice of ISP’s, and by accepting a service that is STM-I without any back to back Service Level Agreement (SLA) from the provider, Singtel. Now it is the responsibility of the PTCL to take the country out of this quagmire.
Source: Business Recorder
Date:4/18/2003
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