ISPs demand probe into fibre link damage
KARACHI- Internet Service Providers (ISPs) have demanded of the government to launch inquiry into the Pakistan Telecommunication Company’s fibre link damage, cutting off the country’s telecom link from the whole world for several hours.
“We demand the government to order an independent inquiry into this incident nominating representatives of media, ISPs and other private sector operators to ascertain the losses and to recommend ways to safeguard the nation from such shocks through negligence,” a statement of Internet Service Providers Association of Pakistan (ISPAK) said on April 7, 2003.
The country’s telecom experienced the worst crisis couple of days ago when its connection from outside world came to a halt due to damage of a fibre optic link of the PTCL, damaged by labours working on the route of Layari Expressway.
The disconnection occurred at around 2:30 pm on Friday when the operations of all the 72 ISPs came to a halt which ultimately affected the Internet browsers who could not get logged for several hours. Meanwhile, the connection was resumed after 13 hours.
“This incidence is the manifestation of careless attitude and organisational inability of the PTCL at a crucial time when the whole world is expecting exceptional performance and vigilance from the communication agencies,” the ISPAK statement said.
The ISPAK said that it was in the knowledge of the PTCL that Lyari Expesway construction is in progress and it was also known to PTCL that out of total connectivity of around 190 MB from outside world, 155 MB link passed through the work area of the Lyari Project.
It observed that any commercial company should have thought it fit to place at least a vigilance squad or picket to ensure that all the important links were not accidentally disrupted.
It is pertinent to note that the cable is linked with the Landing Point at Karachi beach, which connects the country with the whole world. The point is connected with an international undersea optical fibre, named South East, Middles East, Western Europe-3 (SEMEWE-3).
This problem also bothered the international callers who were unable to get connected after 2:30 pm. This was also the reason of the cancellation of an international videoconference at a local hotel organised by a multinational firm.
The ISPAK alleged that the negligence of PTCL has not only decapitated the national telecom link to outside world but it caused very heavy losses to ISPs and other services providers like TV channels.
Source: The News
Date:4/8/2003
” 
” 
” 
” 
” 
