Minister calls ISPs, PTCL meet as DoS attacks persist
KARACHI- The incessant denial of service attacks on telecom system and PTCL’s failure to counter them, which sparked outcries from internet service providers, moved the ministry of IT to gather all stakeholders to discuss the problem.
Sources close to the ministry told on May 01, 2003 the federal minister for IT had invited PTCL high ups, representatives of internet service providers (ISPs) and software houses to meet in Islamabad on May 02, 2003. The meeting will ponder on ways and means to counter denial of service attacks, which reduce internet browsing speed to a snail’s pace and disrupt international calls.
“The meeting will focus on the ongoing crisis being faced by all the stakeholders particularly ISPs which ultimately suffers internet browsers,” sources said.
The internet users across the country have been experiencing problems in internet connectivity and disruption in ISPs’ services since March 25. The ISPs hold denial of service attacks on the service they receive from PTCL, responsible for it. While PTCL claims it has successfully fixed the problem. But ISPs and browsers continue to complain about the attacks.
“The minister had earlier directed PTCL to counter attacks on war footing. But seeing the problem still persists, he has called the meeting to discuss it with the people concerned,” sources said adding the ISPs’ problem would top the meeting’s agenda but it would not be the only one.
“The minister has also invited representatives of software houses and officials of PSEB (Pakistan Software Export Board) to discuss the performance of software export board, which is certainly not so satisfactory,” sources said adding that suggestions to invigorate PSEB had also been sought.
Ministry of IT has since last seven months not appointed a managing director to the PSEB. After the unceremonious exit of previous MD PSEB in September last year, the department has been working without a proper head.
As per the approved Planning Commission plan all the projects launched by PSEB were to be completed by December 31, 2002. But the absence of a proper head affected pace of work on the projects and the government had to extend the date till end March.
The projects are not likely to be completed till the end of extended period, as there is nobody to take appropriate action on various important matters, sources said.
PSEB failed to reap foreign exchange earnings of local software companies that participated in various international exhibitions. It also failed to market the potential of its 20 companies in the incubators at Lahore, set up Science and Technology Parks (STPs) in collaboration with private sector and provide bandwidth at reduced rates to software houses.
Source: The News
Date:5/2/2003
” 
” 
” 
” 
