Extending Coverage in Pakistan

Pakistan's Telecoms Authority is understood to be preparing to permit mobile phones to be used in the country's Northern Areas, where phones are currently forbidden. The regulator is considering permitting the existing mobile networks to extend the remit of their operating licenses to include the Northern Area for a fee of US$10 million. The need for improved wireless communications was heightened following the 2005 earthquake in the area. Aid efforts were severely affected by the lack of even rudimentary communications services.

The current telecoms facilities in the Area are controlled by the Special Communication Organisation of the Pakistan Army and while fixed wireless services are available, the quality is said to be poor and unreliable. Offering any services in the area is difficult due to the mountainous terrain. The region is home to some of the world's highest mountain ranges, including the western Himalayas.

The Northern Areas or Gilgit-Baltistan is the northernmost region of Pakistani-administered Kashmir. India does not recognise the Northern Areas and Azad Kashmir as part of Pakistan and refers to them as "Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK)"."

Posted to the site on 18th April 2006