KARACHI: Several districts in Balochistan are going to receive mobile phone and other telecom services for the first time ever as companies are now eyeing more business opportunities in the largest province of the country with the lowest teledensity, thanks to a fast-improving security situation and growing development projects under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), said officials and analysts.

The development has come following the Universal Services Fund’s (USF) nod to two cellular companies for expansion in seven districts of Balochistan. The companies are set to make inroads in the areas where the security situation and “militancy threat” kept telecom services, mainly mobile phone facility, at distance for more than two decades after it was launched in the country.

“In Awaran, Lasbela, Khuzdar, Chagai, Kalat and Sibi districts, Ufone is going to expand services under the USF’s sustainable development projects for Balochistan. In Zhob, Telenor will launch a similar project,” said an official citing details of the recent expansion plan.

“The projects will include voice service and all other value-added services under 3G licences. These areas were considered among the remotest districts of the country where the key cellular service was not available so far.”

He said that Balochistan and its cities were under focus for the projects related to deployment of optic fibre, rural telephony, broadband and e-services. The development of information and communication technology-enabled infrastructure in underserved areas and those without such services would support the mega projects of the CPEC in future, he added.

“Apart from business opportunities and growing demand, the key force behind the expansion plan of the companies is a go-ahead from security agencies as the situation in these districts is much better now than the past and signs of sustainable peace are obvious,” the official said.

“In six districts awarded to Ufone, 383 base transceiver stations, generally called mobile phone towers, are being installed to provide mobile broadband internet and 3G-related services,” he added.

Analysts believe that deteriorated safety and security outlook in Pakistan, particularly in Balo­chistan, had adversely affected the corporate fabric in the past and also delayed telecom services expansion in remote areas of the country.

Published in Dawn, May 8th, 2017