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Picture Shows Chief Executive Officer, Universal Service Fund Parvez Iftikhar (Center), Chief Technology Officer, Telenor Pakistan Khalid Shehzad (Right) and Sub–Regional Head, Gulf Pakistan Nokia Siemens Networks, Veqar ul Islam (Left)
Telenor Pakistan has leveraged Nokia Siemens Networks’ off-grid site solution to inaugurate the first of 28 such sites planned across Pakistan. Residents of remote villages in Sindh Pakistan are enjoying their first experience with mobile communications. The previously unconnected hinterland has the distinction of hosting the country’s first solar powered GSM network in a Universal Service Fund (USF)* assisted area.
Universal Service Fund and Telenor Pakistan entered in the contract to provide basic telephony and data services in un-served areas of Mirpurkhas Sindh on 13th March 2009. CEO USF Parvez Iftikhar inaugurated the first of 28 planned sites. At the occasion, Iftikhar appreciated Telenor Pakistan’s initiative to leverage Nokia Siemens Networks off grid solution to offer telecom services to communication deprived areas. “We are extremely pleased with the progress thus far and look forward to opportunities that enable mobile connectivity to the unserved and underserved population of the country and that too using a renewable energy solution,” he added.
“Telenor Pakistan continues to work towards our commitment to extend the power of telecommunications to the remotest corners of the country,” said Khalid Shehzad, Chief Technology Officer, Telenor Pakistan. “Living up to this promise however, necessitated some out of the box thinking. The off grid site solution from Nokia Siemens Networks provided the answer that we were looking for and now because of this incredible opportunity, thousands are enjoying mobile connectivity” he added.
A 7 hour drive from the main city of Karachi and at least an hour and a half from the nearest town – Umarkot, the site lies in the deep interiors of the Sindh province. In the absence of a reliable state electricity grid, Nokia Siemens Networks’ off-grid site solution harvests solar energy to power the base station sites. In addition, the company’s Green Energy Control solution interfaces power from varied sources including the diesel generator to manage the battery charging and discharging thus delivering a sustainable and cost optimized solution.
“The remoteness of the site posed significant challenges in terms of transportation of staff and materials,” added said Saad M. Waraich, Country Director, Pakistan & Afghanistan, Nokia Siemens Networks. “However, we overcame all obstacles to launch services by the target date. We are looking forward to expand connectivity to most of the 28 sites by the end of the first quarter of 2010.”
