Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) and Afghanistan Telecom Regulatory Authority (ATRA) have agreed to enhance mutual cooperation in the field of telecommunications and PTA will extend help to ATRA for continuance of telecom services in Afghanistan.
This was decided in a meeting between the two authorities at PTA headquarters. Afghanistan Telecom Regulatory Authority’s delegation was headed by its Chairman Zakaria Hassan.
On the occasion, PTA Chairman Dr Mohammed Yaseen, briefed the delegation on Pakistan’s telecom sector development, saying that Pakistan has made unprecedented progress in mobile and fixed telephone sectors and internet services. He said that operators in Pakistan are willing to extend fibre optic links to Afghanistan after which Pakistan will be connected to Central Asian States and Afghanistan could also be linked to the international sea cable system through Pakistan. He proposed a joint working group to expedite this process and enhance mutual cooperation. ATRA Chairman, Zakaria Hassan said that Afghanistan opened up its telecom sector in 2003 and since then it has made rapid progress. He said, “We want to get benefit from Pakistan’s experience in telecommunication areas such as interconnect costing models and tariff regulations.” He also showed interest in training imparted by Pakistan.
During the meeting issues pertaining to cross border flow of telecom signals were also discussed.
It was decided that a joint committee will formulate guidelines in this regard.
It was decided that Memorandum of understanding (MoU) will be signed to enhance mutual cooperation in training, sea cables system and interference. On this occasion representatives of Afghan telecom and senior PTA officials were also present.
