KARACHI, Oct 29: Pakistan Telecommunication Company (PTCL) is planning to introduce “pair gain” system to provide new connections in exchanges where “dry pockets” exist and where there is shortage of cable pair.

PTCL South Director General (operation) Irfan Ali Khan told APP that, under the system, telephone connections could be provided immediately by installing the system in an exchange and in cabinets or on the distribution points.

He said the system was expected to be commissioned within two months.

Meanwhile, the corporation will provide 11,000 telephone lines in Gulistan-i-Jauhar by the next year in addition to the 20,000 lines already provided for the area.

According to STR-III sources, there are some 7,000 demands pending for telephone connections in the area and the STR has issued 5,000 demand notes. The remaining 2,000 demand notes are expected to be issued in 10 to 15 days.

The STR-III has 424,126 connections against the capacity of 524,410 lines.

The sources said that there were some 74,000 analogue lines working in the region and the rest were digital. The analogue lines will be converted to digital by the end of the financial year.

Of the analogue lines, 24,000 are in North Karachi, 10,000 in Nazimabad, 20,000 in Gulshan-i-Iqbal, 10,000 in Malir and 10,000 in Azizabad exchange.

The number of pending demands for telephone connections stands at 10,359, including 7,000 in Gulistan-i-Jauhar.—APP