ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of Information Technology and Telecom plans to roll out 5G in 2023, after the telecom industry's market size has grown to $16.9 billion as a result of $1.2 billion in foreign direct investment over the last three years.
According to the ministry, the target has also been welcomed by foreign investors.
In a recent presentation to Prime Minister Imran Khan on the sector's performance, the ministry highlighted that, in order to meet the future requirements of digitisation across the country and the launch of future technological needs such as 5G, projects for "deep fiberisation" have been launched by the Universal Service Fund (USF) to expand telecom services and internet even in remote and backward areas.
Over 10,000 kilometres of optical fibre cable will be laid across the country between 2018 and 22 to provide high-speed internet to 1,175 towns and union councils. According to the ministry, USF projects have covered over 1,800km of unserved road network in Balochistan, including highways and motorways.
While discussing the significance of the deep fiberisation project, Minister for IT and Telecom Syed Amin ul Haq stated that the government was betting heavily on expanding IT service exports to $5 billion by the end of 2022-23.
“We will provide inexpensive and high-speed internet to people in tiny communities, and I am confident that even females from the KP and GB regions would flourish as freelancers while working from home,” the minister stated.
IT services exports increased by 47 percent to $2.1 billion in 2020-21.
According to the study, the USF has played a significant role in telecom infrastructure development for future digital growth by contracting out 43 projects totaling Rs29 billion in unserved and underserved areas. Over 65 districts in Southern Balochistan, erstwhile FATA, and interior Sindh served a population of over 25 million people.
The government argues that the planned spectrum auction for next generation mobile services in AJ&K and GB would assist boost telecom and internet services in these areas.
According to the study, when connectivity was stretched to secondary and tertiary towns and rural regions, the Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB) started initiatives in these cities and towns to establish IT development hubs.
While eight software technology parks have already been established, the PSEB plans to establish 32 more in secondary and tertiary cities through public-private partnerships, which will aid in the development of the software development industry and the creation of white collar jobs for inclusive growth.
The Pakistan Stock Exchange has listed 40 IT businesses, according to reports.
The study stated that when connection was extended to secondary and tertiary towns and rural regions, the Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB) started initiatives in these cities and towns to establish IT development hubs.
While eight software technology parks have already been built, the PSEB plans to establish 32 more in secondary and tertiary cities through public-private partnerships, assisting in the development of the software development sector and providing white collar employment for inclusive growth.
It has been reported that 40 IT businesses have been listed on the Pakistan Stock Exchange.
The NTC was also protecting over 450 government websites from cyber assaults and hacking through its services.
The Ignite National Technology Fund, which is a torch bearer for technology innovation and entrepreneurship in Pakistan, and the National IT Board, which is responsible for executing e-governance programmes for the federal government to achieve the target of paperless working in government offices, are two other key entities under the IT ministry.
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