3G technology to boost investment, employment: IT minister

Mobile consumers prefer 3G over 2G as 3G service subscribers grow to 940 million worldwide.

LAHORE: Investment and employment chances would increase in Pakistan if 3G (third generation) services are introduced, Federal Minister for Information Technology and Communications Sardar Assef Ahmed said during a seminar on Tuesday.

The seminar was organised by Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) under the theme “To be or not to be is not the question: 3G is coming”. Ahmad said that progress in information technology is the shortest way to development.

He said that with the introduction of 3G technology, investment in the country would rise and businesses would have new options to make progress. It would create new jobs and as a result unemployment would decline.

He said the IT ministry’s door would remain open for any group that wants to work on a development project and it would create an environment for facilitating the group.

Ahmed said the introduction of 3G network is very vital for both public and private sectors. He said that 3G network, devices and services in different sectors would not only improve the quality of people’s life but would also expand economic opportunities.

He added that the 3G technology was full of innovative ideas for telecom consumers and public and private enterprises. He said that this technology would bring the best output for the citizens of developing countries, where teledensity and internet penetration are low.

He said that in the 1960s and 70s, cost of development projects had been high which made investment very difficult for investors, but in the modern world usage of information technology facilitated development projects which has the minimum cost and completed work in a very short time.

Chairman Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) Dr Mohammed Yaseen said that 940 million 3G service subscribers had been recorded out of a total 5.3 billion mobile phone subscriptions worldwide. He said that mobile consumers now prefer 3G technology over 2G.

He said that access to mobile networks was available to 90 per cent of the world population and 80 per cent people in rural areas. People are moving from 2G to 3G services in both developed and developing countries rapidly, he added.

He informed that in 2010, 143 countries had started to offer 3G services commercially. He said that a number of countries had started to offer services at even higher broadband speed, moving to next generation wireless platform.

According to a statement issued by the PTA, Yaseen has announced the formation of a working group, comprising telecom sector representatives and PTA officials, in order to address concerns of all stakeholders before 3G technology is introduced in Pakistan.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 29^th, 2010.