Ispak seeks government’s permission for four new gateways in private sector
KARACHI- The Internet Service Providers of Pakistan (ISPAK) has sought government permission for establishment of four Gateways in private sector to avoid any untoward happening like that of July 7, when Pakistan was cut off from the rest of the world’s Internet link for over 15 hours.
V. A. Abidi, Secretary General of Internet Services Providers of Pakistan (Ispak), while speaking to newsmen at a press conference here on July 9th, 2003.
He further said, for sake of national economic interest the Ispak had demanded of the government to allow at least four gateways in private sector as our neighbouring India has allowed eight about four years back, he added.
He slammed the Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited, the only Internet backbone provider terming them responsible of the whole episode.
Due to this disconnection, the country faced not only damage immensely to Internet Service Providers but also to the web based businesses of Pakistan.
“We will ensure no loss of revenue and protect the system and from internal and external cyber attacks, create redundancy of equipment and efficiency of manpower handling the system,” Abidi added.
The country’s telecom system experienced the worst crisis couple of days back when its connection from outside world came to a halt due to damage of a fibre optic link of the Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL).
The disconnection occurred at around 4:00 PM on Monday (July 7) when operations of all the 72 ISPs in the country came to a complete halt which ultimately affected the Internet browsers who could not get logged for over 15 hours. However, the connection was resumed on Tuesday (July 8) at 07:00 AM.
“This incidence is the manifestation of careless attitude and organisational inability of PTCL at a crucial time when the whole world is expecting exceptional performance and vigilance from the communication agencies,” Abidi said.
He ruled out PTCL claim that the disconnection was result of Power Feeding Equipment (PEF) saying, the company always tried to hide its inefficiency and ill planning.
He said, “The disconnection was occurred due to disturbance in cable supplying power to fibre link. The PTCL should divert its cable route as it is laid under heavy traffic which can damage it anytime.”
Currently, the country is connected with a submarine undersea optical fibre, South East Asia, Middles East, Western Europe-3 (SEAMEWE-3).
The SEAMEWE-3 is vulnerable to cuts (accidental and malicious) and international communications from and to Pakistan could go in dark for several weeks. The country went through the same experience on April 4, but July 7 problem, Internet service providers (ISPs) said was the worst one.
Moreover, the PTCL few months back signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with 12 other international telecom carriers to jointly work on the construction of a new submarine cable linking South East Asia, the Middle East and Europe.
Source: Business Recorder
Date:7/10/2003
” 
” 
” 
” 
