ISLAMABAD – Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) inaugurated the country’s first Internet Exchange Point (PKIX) at Higher Education Commission (HEC) on Friday, in order to help reduce the rates of domestic Internet traffic.
State Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication Anusha Rehman was the chief guest in the inauguration ceremony held at Commission’s Secretariat. HEC Chairman Dr Mukhtar Ahmed, PTA Chairman Dr Ismail Shah and Dr HEC Executive Director Arshad Ali were also present on the occasion.
Anusha Rehman congratulated HEC and PTA on the inauguration of Pakistan’s first exchange point. She said, “Steps being taken under the telecommunication policy will take Pakistan to its ultimate destination of leading the world as a key player in IT.”
The minister also stated that the policy has a critical one-point agenda to connect the unconnected which is being strictly followed for improvement in connectivity in the country.
“Private and public sectors must cooperate to remove hurdles in the way of connectivity,” said minister.
Huawei Technologies, Pakistan provided the required hardware equipment to establish the Internet Exchange Point (IXP). PKIX will be the exchange point for all local Internet Service Providers (ISPs).
The primary purpose of PKIX is to allow networks to interconnect directly, via the exchange, rather than through one or more third-party networks.
It will also enable local networks to efficiently exchange information at a common point within Pakistan rather than exchanging local Internet traffic with the outside world.
More than seven national telecom and internet carriers have become part of Pakistan`s first Internet Exchange Point.
Meanwhile, Chairman HEC Dr Mukhtar Ahmed briefed the minister about the 29th South Asian Network Operators Group Conference being held at HEC.
“HEC, Ministry of Information & Technology and PTA have to work together to get benefits of IT tools and technologies,” said the chairman.
“HEC is dedicatedly playing its part to facilitate the higher education institutions with ICT services aiming at the country’s socio-economic development,” he said.
Chairman PTA Dr Ismail Shah lauded the ministry and HEC for their efforts to promote utilization of new technologies in their respective spheres.
