As part of CPEC, China is establishing a new fiber optic cable in Pakistan with a back-haul link to China. The worth of the project is $44 million. The cable will stretch over a distance of 820 kilometers i.e. from the Chinese border to Rawalpindi. This new cable will cater the needs of growing internet users in Pakistan.

This back-haul fiber optic cable will give Pakistan a direct communication link to China and from there to Europe and United States. The construction of the cable will hopefully be done within one year. Previously, it was to be complete till the end of ongoing year 2015. It is to be undertaken by Huawei group. It is interesting to note that PTA has not yet been approached on the project. However, PTA has agreed to cooperate on this useful project. Chairman PTA Syed Ismail Shah said recently,

We have not been officially informed about the Fibre optic project under the CPEC.

Secretary Ministry of Information Technology Mr. Azmat Ali Ranjha said regarding the project,

The task of the project has been given to Special Communications Organization (SCO).

He further commented regarding the expenditure,

PC-1 worth Rs 1.4 billion has been sent to the Planning Commission in this regard.

The Exim Bank of China will provide the government a concessional loan at an interest rate of 2% per annum for Cross Border Optic Fiber Project.

Currently, there are four fiber optic cables operating in Pakistan. Following international links with landing points in Pakistan are under construction:

1. AAE-1 with design capacity of 40Tbps
2. Sea-Me-We-5 with design capacity of 24Tbps
3. Silk Road Gateway-1 (With landing points in Karachi and Gwadar)
4. Pakistan-China Fiber Optic Back-Haul

In recent days, we have come across significant developments regarding Internet in Pakistan i.e. Internet Exchange Point. Hopefully, we can see better internet speeds in the country in near future.

SOURCE: ProPakistani