The Pak-China optical cable fiber project aimed to provide alternative route for international connectivity through Northern border of Pakistan. Considering the dependency on submarine system for connectivity with the world, Pakistan conceived the idea to set up a high capacity link through China by deployment of optical fiber cable from Rawalpindi to Pak-China border, Khunjerab.
First (MoU), for the establishment of a secure international optical fiber cable, was signed between China Telecomm and Pakistan Special Communications Organization (SCO) in April 2007. Approved by the government of Pakistan in 2010, the contract was signed between Chinese Telecomm and SCO on July 5, 2013. The groundbreaking of project held on May 19, 2016. The fiber optical cable, of worth $ 44 million, covers an area of 820 km. it is completed and inaugurated in July 2018.
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