Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has issued Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for establishing Cross Border Bilateral/Transit Communication Links with neighboring countries.
Until recently, telecommunication operators were allowed to connect Pakistan with outside world through submarine cables only. With these new SOPs in place, operators will be allowed to connect with neighboring countries directly — through fixed-line (land), wireless or satellite technologies.
Technically speaking this new arrangement has got nothing new as communication connections through submarine cables are essentially the same as these new cross-border connections are going to be.
Both types of cables connect Pakistan with a foreign land, but since Pakistan is more concerned, in terms of security, when it comes to its neighboring states (both India and Afghanistan) the new policy has kept additional checks in place to ensure that operators aren’t bypassing any national interests.
With new protocols and legislation in place, Pakistan will have chance to directly connect with neighboring countries including China, Afghanistan, Iran or India.
With new policy in place, Pakistani communication players are now going to get connected with China without any legal challenge. Not to mention, Pakistan is already laying down a fiber cable to connect with China through Khunjrab.
Pakistan has the potential to become a connectivity hub for Central Asian states, for which this new policy is going to play a landmark role. Through Afghanistan, now Pakistani (and regional) players can offer massive connectivity to land-locked Central Asian states.
Source: https://propakistani.pk/2016/09/23/pta-issues-sops-cross-border-communication-links/
