Description:

The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority has decided to crack down on TV and internet copper cables hanging from electricity poles, here"s the reliable news.

According to the telecoms regulator, it has noticed that operators are laying their wires on the infrastructure of distribution companies and accidents are occurring due to internet and TV cables snapping and hanging from electricity poles and lying on the ground.

The PTA has also launched a nationwide survey to ensure that no licensee is using electric poles to provide their services through copper wires. The Authority has issued new guidelines asking all Fixed Local Loop (FLL) and Long Distance International (LDI) operators to install overhead and underground internet cables according to standards issued by the International Telecommunication Union.

ALSO READ : Mohammad Rizwan Wins ICC Player of the Month for September

According to a document available  the PTA said its licensees mainly use optical fiber cable (OFC) to provide internet services across the country. Optical fiber cable (OFC) transmits information using optical or light technology. The fiber is made of a dielectric material that does not conduct electricity. A case study of electrocution in Karachi shows that most of the cables in the area belong to cable TV operators.

According to the PTA document, electricity distribution companies are involved in permitting the installation of copper wires on poles. Major distribution companies including K-Electric charge Rs 10 per pole to enable copper wires to be laid. PTA has also provided standards for laying OFC cables defined by the International Telecommunication Union to NEPRA and other distribution companies.

ALSO READ : Millions of Facebook Passwords Stolen Warns Meta

Copper wires are not allowed to hang on electric poles, in order to avoid accidents, these wires should be removed from electric poles immediately. The PTA has directed operators to ensure a certain distance from power lines when laying fiber optic cables on power poles.