SAARC and the Indian Telecom Companies
- V.A.Abdi, Secretary ISPAK, Karachi

THE sudden and dramatic political changes in Pakistan, has some what marred a very important regional event, the second SAARC Communication Ministers Conference. This conference is all the more important for Pakistan as the country is in the process of awarding licenses for the operation of Telecom Services to Private Sector Companies of Local and Foreign origin.

It is heartening to note that our outgoing Minister of IT&C and Special Envoy Mr. Awais Ahmed Laghari has advocated for a joint strategy for the SAARC Members on the Key Issues of Infrastructure. Mr. Laghari also identified the lack of Infrastructure a threat to South Asia.

This Conference and the open arm policy of Pakistan to invite multinationals to take part in Infrastructure Building could act as a catalyst of friendship between these two larger and important SAARC partners changing the shape of Telecom in this vast region. It is said that Six Indian Companies, as a joint venture or independent entities have applied for the licenses of Long Distance (LDI)/ Local Loop (LL) Operations.

Of these six Indian companies, Reliance, a well-known group is already operating in Pakistan as owners of “Flag” Cables, providing Bandwidth to PTCL and its customers. The other well-known company, the VSNL, the successor to the Indian Government owned Telecom conglomerate and counterpart of our PTCL, now owned by TATAs, one of the most famous India based Multinational. Tata’s commercial presence in Pakistan can also be noticed in the shape of Tetlay, the newly advertised Tea Brand wholly owned by TATAs.

By welcoming experienced and financial sound Indian based Telecom companies, Pakistan will give a very Bold ad Loud Signal to Indians that we are all out for peace and cooperation, at the same time the Infrastructure in the region could rapidly develop entirely by the regional efforts.

Pakistan, through the interaction with these big Indian companies could get easy entry into the International IT Businesses and BPOs as conglomerates like TATA have ceased sizeable percentage of International IT Businesses additionally, Pakistani Telecom Companies could look into providing services not only in India but also in other SAARC Member Companies. This “Chance Situation” could become a trendsetter in the whole region for many more businesses.

The collaboration in Telecom Business with India will surely, cause serious concerns of security of Communication and would not be an easy discussion. However, unlike the LL Operations, the LDI operation is more like a transportation scene where packed and bundled goods are transported by many Transports en-route to the destination. The security of transportation will mostly depend on the security of the packaging and bundling.

One could be sure that our decision makers will certainly take into account that in modern Telecom scenario it is not possible to have a stand alone Cable Net-work all around the globe. That we are already sharing the submarine media with Indians only a short distance out in the sea outside Karachi. That the “Flag Cable” already providing services with in Pakistan is wholly owned by the India based Reliance Group, that our geography is such that in any future International Cable Net-work, we will not be able to avoid sharing it with Indians. That we have an opportunity to en-cash goodwill and good business at this opportune moment what will be our compulsion in not too distant future. One hopes that if not the LL, the LDI Licenses would be issued to Indian companies, if they otherwise qualify to our laid down criteria.

Pakistan will stand to gain from the experience of the Indian Telecom companies who have a slight edge over us in rapidly developing the Telecom Infrastructure in similar environment. As Mr. Awais Laghari rightly said that it was the responsibility of SAARC to get together and identify programmes and linkages with in the region, which could strengthen effective communication between countries.

Let then be Pakistan to be the first in this leadership roll to start a new chapter in this expectant environment and mood of the region, let then Pakistan be the one to offer this opportunity to rapidly build up the Infrastructure in the region.●

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