Page 45 - SAMENA Trends - November 2020

REGIONAL & MEMBERS UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

Internet Gateway to be Deployed in Iraq

Nokia said that its IP routing technology best possible internet services. Nokia will right partners helping us achieve this in
has been selected for Informatics and supply and install several of its IP routers, Iraq. Nokia’s solution meets the security
Telecommunications Public Company including 7750 SR-s, 7750 SR-e and 7250 requirements of public sector and mission-
(ITPC), a company of Iraq’s Ministry of IXR for the ITPC network to deliver high- critical applications, thereby enabling us
Communication (MoC), to serve as the performance, scale and flexibility required to secure the network with high-capacity
main backbone of the country's internet to support a full array of IP services and and high-performance protection.” Rima
infrastructure. The deployment aims to functions. Nokia’s commissioning, network Manna, Head of the Middle East Market
set up a smooth and secure mechanism design, and integration professional Unit, Nokia, said: “We are grateful to ITPC
for internet flow from tier-1 internet services will help deploy the network, which for placing its trust in our abilities to deliver
providers to Iraq via the country’s serves millions of subscribers, smoothly critical communication services. We are
Internet Service Providers (ISPs). AlAwsat and efficiently. Al-Awsat will support committed to enabling the best-in-class
Telecommunication Services Co. will with installation, civil works and required services by building a robust mechanism
be partnering with Nokia to deploy the power supply through generators for the for managing internet gateways. Our
technology. Nokia's leading Service deployment. Iraqi Telecommunication advanced IP routers will be instrumental in
Router (SR) portfolio delivers the network Ministry said: “Internet gateway is a supporting ITPC’s connectivity and traffic
performance and service richness fundamental pillar in ensuring a country's management requirements.”
necessary for operators to provide the data security. Nokia and Al-Awsat are the

USF Extends Telecom Services to Un-Served Areas of Pakistan

The Universal Service Fund (USF) Pakistan awarded contracts worth government is working arduously on mobile phone
approximately Rs 112 million to Zong 4G for providing 4G network coverage applications, web portals, e-commerce, e-government,
in rural and remote areas of Sindh and Balochistan. Federal Minister of IT online jobs, digital payments, establishment of IT parks
& Telecommunication, Syed Aminul Haque inaugurated the projects at a and all other avenues which are related to the Digital
ceremony held at Zong 4G Headquarters. The contracts were signed by Pakistan vision. The federal minister congratulated Zong
Haaris Mahmood Chaudhary, CEO, USF with Wang Hua, Chairman and CEO, 4G and USF on the signing of the contracts and expressed
Zong 4G. Federal Secretary for IT & Telecommunication Shoaib Ahmed the hope that this will ensure that residents living in
Siddiqui and Chairman PTA, Major General (R) Amir Azeem Bajwa were also remote areas of Baluchistan and rural pockets of Karachi
present at the ceremony. Syed Aminul Haque said on the occasion that in will have better connectivity through Zong 4G’s superior
order to achieve the Digital Pakistan vision, it is imperative that all areas technical expertise. He stated that USF was working on
and citizens of Pakistan have access to mobile phones and Broadband projects worth billions of rupees which include laying
services. This will ensure that not only is the citizenry connected to the optical fiber, deploying telecommunication infrastructure
digital world but they will be in a position to benefit and use Information and expanding networks. Furthermore, he announced that
Communication Technology (ICT) facilities”. He informed that the Ministry of IT and Telecommunication with USF’s support
will be launching new development projects pertaining
to network and Broadband expansion monthly. While
sharing his views at the ceremony, Zong 4G’s Chairman
and CEO Wang Hua said: “Since its inception, Zong 4G
has been at the forefront of digital transformation in
Pakistan, striving to bring the unserved and underserved
areas and masses under the folds of connectivity and
digital inclusion. We thank USF for awarding us these
projects and the government of Pakistan for supporting
us in pursuing our passion for an empowered and Digital
Pakistan. We stay committed to our mission of serving
the Pakistani people in all possible ways and a project
like this simply fuels that passion of ours.” , sharing his
thoughts at the ceremony, CEO USF, Haaris Mahmood
Chaudhary said: “These projects will benefit an unserved
population of 0.5 million in 263 unserved Mauzas, thereby
covering an unserved area of 4,121 sq.km.

45 NOVEMBER 2020