Company:National Telecommunication Corporation (Pakistan)

From HandWiki
National Telecommunication Corporation
TypeState owned enterprise
IndustryTelecommunication
Founded1996 (1996)
HeadquartersNTC Headquarters, Sector G-5/1, Islamabad, Pakistan
Area served
Pakistan
ServicesTelecommunication and data based services
OwnerGovernment of Pakistan
Websitentc.net.pk

The National Telecommunication Corporation (abbreviated: NTC) is a government owned information technology and Telecommunication services provider corporation in Pakistan .

History

NTC was formed in 1996 by telecom reorganization act through which Pakistan Telecommunication Corporation (formerly Pakistan Telephone and Telegraph Department) was split into two companies, National Telecommunication Corporation (NTC) and Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL). NTC provides telecom services to all government departments and at residencies of government employees across Pakistan.

Company profile

The government of Pakistan established National Telecommunication Corporation (NTC) in January 1996 under the Telecom Reorganization Act 1996. The main objective was to have an infrastructure independent of all other operators that can be used for the purpose of government communication and as an alternative support for the operators entering the market.

Developments

The ongoing infrastructure development journey for NTC began in 1996 when it was created with few local exchanges. However, today NTC has developed its own infrastructure to an extent where it can be called an independent IT and telecom operator capable of meeting the challenges of the deregulated environment and meeting the objectives for which it was created.

NTC started its operations in 1996 with only 5 local exchanges spread across Pakistan and an analogue microwave link not capable of supporting digital transmission. To carry out its operations, NTC was dependent on PTC infrastructure and their transit network, international gateways, transmission network, IN platform etc., to carry out its operations. The copper network in the access provided to NTC was not sufficient to cater for its subscriber base and meet the required quality of service parameters. NTC had no arrangements for direct interconnect with cellular operators.

Naturally NTC had to pay a substantial part of its revenue to PTCL for 3rd party termination. Data Services being essential demand of NTC customers could not be met due to non-availability of infrastructure. Billing of NTC customers was carried out through PTC and through Pakistan Computer Bureau. The main challenge for NTC was to reduce this dependency on other operators to minimum as soon as possible to fulfill its obligations and to sustain itself in the deregulated environment in which PTC was to be privatised.

The main focus in the initial years was to develop its own basic infrastructure that included optical fibre transmission backbone, transit network, billing system and multi services data network (MSDN) beside expansion of its switching network to un-served areas to cover as much of its subscriber base as possible. It purchased 2 fibres from PTC in the main optical fibre backbone and equipped it with 622 Mbit/s SDH system. It expanded its exchanges in different cities to gain access to its customers along with laying of copper cable. These exchanges were converted into transit exchanges to provision long distance services on NTC network and to have direct interconnects with cellular and other operators.

The establishment of NTC MSDN was a major milestone, achieved in 2001 which enabled NTC to provide multiple data services such as dial-up, DSL, Web hosting and internet etc. to its customers. Another milestone achievement in national history is placement of Pakistan Educational Research Network (PERN) project. The project is providing 155 Mbit/s international connectivity to 59 universities connected all over Pakistan. The billing system was developed in first 4 years which made it possible for NTC to do its own billing.

Services

NTC is currently providing the following services to its customers.

  • Telephone
  1. Basic Telephony
  2. Calling Card
  3. Integrated Service Digital Network
  4. Basic Rate Interface
  5. Primary rate interface
  6. Supplementary Services
  7. Network Solutions for valued subscribers
  • Multi-Services Data Network:
  1. Web Hosting facility
  2. Electronic mail platform
  3. DDP, ISDN
  4. Co-Location
  5. Virtual Private Networking
  6. Video Conferencing facility
  7. Broadband Internet Access
  8. Intranet Solutions
  9. Radio/Wireless Networking Solution
  10. Leased Line Services
  11. Customized Data Solutions
  • Transmission Services:
  1. Dark Fiber
  2. Media (Junction)
  • Co-Location:
  1. Space, Dishes/Antennas, Power Supply
  2. Servers

External links