Draft readied for sharing telecom infrastructure.

ISLAMABAD -- The Ministry of IT and Telecom (MoITT) has finalised the draft of the Infrastructure Sharing Framework to boost competition as well as reduce the cost of doing business for mobile and internet service providers.

The ministry expects that the infrastructure sharing - active and passive - would promote resource optimisation which will eventually benefit the customers with improved services and competitive rates.

Active infrastructure sharing involves sharing the electronic network components including the Operational Support System (OSS), Business Support System (BSS), fibre and radio networks etc.

While passive infrastructure sharing allows operators to share physical sites, buildings, premises, towers, power supply, batteries, diesel, air-conditioning, etc.

At the same time the customers too will benefit from the provisions of new and innovative services, and improved coverage with the presence of multiple operators mainly in remote areas compared to a few who have limited capability, the ministry maintains.

The working paper of the framework has highlighted that telecom network deployment involves heavy capital expenditure (Capex) and operational expenditure (Opex) for operators and is considered a major deterrent for network expansion.

It added that the other challenges faced by mobile operators as well internet service providers to expand their businesses include delays in rolling out new network infrastructure as they have to procure Right of Ways from...