Pak tele firm in pact with Reliance, BNC

Setting aside security concerns, state-run Pakistan Telecommunications Company Ltd (PTCL) has signed MoUs with two Indian telecom companies to provide cable link between the two countries through the Wagah border.

Telecom giants Reliance and BNC inked the agreement, while Indian Telecom was expected to join the pact shortly, officials said.

This is the first time that Pakistan has opted to have a direct link with India in the telecom sector. Last year, Indian companies were not permitted to take part in the bidding of privatisation of PTCL.

"Pakistan is ready to make the new cable operational as early as in a month. We are waiting for the final go-ahead from India," the Daily Times quoted a top PTCL executive as saying.

Pakistan showed interest in having an optic-fibre cable telecom link with India, ever since Internet services were disrupted across the country last year, due to the snapping of an international undersea cable.

Since then Pakistan opted for another alternative cable and decided to have the cable link with India, despite concerns expressed by security agencies.

"It will be a very cost-effective operation providing quality voice communication between the two countries. The project is being taken up keeping in mind future traffic requirements," he said.