According to a story published in The News, a 4G BaseTransceiver Station (BTS) has been erected in the K2 base camp region of Concordia in an effort to encourage tourism in the area.
Ali Sadpara was the name given to the spot in honour of the late mountaineer who died earlier this year while on a winter trek to the world’s most dangerous peak.
The decision was made in order to improve communication for mountaineers and hikers.
Mountaineers and trekking groups will need mobile service and internet connectivity to stay in touch with their family and aid in emergency situations.
The Special Communication Organisation (SCO) has made the site operational in order to ensure communication at the K2 base camp, the world’s second highest summit.
The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) and telecom operators are working to improve telecommunication services in locations with high tourism potential, in keeping with the government’s objective of increasing tourism throughout the country.
Prime Minister Imran Khan visited Gilgit-Baltistan recently and inaugurated the location.
It will also aid in the promotion of adventure tourism as well as weather forecasting.
As a result of the pandemic, digital access should be recognised a fundamental right: Tabadlab Tabadlab
Because the pandemic has demonstrated that mobile and internet services are a necessity rather than a luxury, Pakistan must declare digital access to be a fundamental right. Tabadlab, an Islamabad-based think tank, stated this in a policy document.
The research organisation summarised the technological hurdles to effective and speedy access to information and treatment during the COVID-19 epidemic in a policy document titled CONNECTING PAKISTAN – Covid-19 as a Catalyst for Digital Transformation.
“As it boosted readiness to respond to disruptions caused by Covid-19, digital access stood out as the single most critical factor impacting people’s experience during the pandemic”
Gender inequality, the rural-urban gap, and a lack of digital literacy, according to the research, compounded the pandemic’s delayed reaction. It presented the following suggestions for the government’s future actions:
- Internet access and digital engagement should be addressed in the same way as other fundamental requirements. Improved regulatory measures, a fairer and more equitable tax incidence on the usage of these services, and a speedier adoption of digital will result as a result of this.
- In policymaking, the urban-rural gap and gender should be taken into account. The Universal Service Fund’s utilisation should be improved, and ancillary use-cases beyond telecom infrastructure should be included to spur innovation for increasing device ownership, internet usage, provision of services such as education and health, and innovative models involving local communities.”
- The Ministry of Human Rights can collaborate with telecommunications providers and civil society organisations to create awareness campaigns that promote women’s internet access. To safeguard women’s online safety, an effective digital harassment policy is also required, which can be done through collaboration with digital rights NGOs.
- The education non-salary budget should be reallocated to invest in ICT training, digital equipment, and education technology projects for both students and teachers, whose digital readiness is essential for optimal results.
- In order to secure connectivity during future crises, the ICT and telecoms sector must be considered as a criterion in disaster preparedness.
- The government should ensure that Special Technology Zones succeed and that the ICT sector receives incentives. It should encourage people to start businesses.
