ISLAMABAD :The National Telecom Corporation (NTC) has drawn up a strategy to upgrade the firewalls of federal and provincial governments, state institutions, to protect them from cyber threats.
The strategy shared with the Ministry of IT & Telecom has highlighted the national cyber defence plan for state institutions.
These includes further securing the telephone lines used by the governments, PM Secretariat, Presidency and other government offices including the armed forces and the defence projects.
While securing internet data and mobile phone communications includes shifting to advanced cloud services, AI expansion and forwarding digitisation across all the public sector.
The wide-ranging strategy includes the deployment of modern border controllers and firewalls to enhance network security across the country.
The NTC future plan has highlighted the need to deliver secure, modern and reliable information technology services to all government institutions.
To ensure security to network architecture from cyber attacks, the NTC has also devised a plan to provide secure mobile phone services to high-ranking government officials and sensitive state institutions.
The secure mobile communication system aims to prevent unauthorised access and protect against interception and surveillance by hostile entities.
“The secure mobile phone initiative is designed to ensure that communications involving key decision-makers remain safe from cyber intrusions,” the document states.
The new measures are part of an overarching effort to enhance national digital infrastructure and safeguard critical communication networks.
The NTC document stated that a robust framework for active threat management will be put in place to monitor and counter potential cyberattacks in real time.
To boost internet connectivity and speed, the NTC plans to roll out Gigabit Passive Optical Network (GPON) technology for 4G services in eight major cities and divisions, including Islamabad, Karachi, Peshawar, Attock, Faisalabad, Multan, Gujranwala and Dera Ghazi Khan.
NTC is establishing a secure access system at Islamabad’s data centers, where the protocols will be tightened and improve internal safeguards.
The document further revealed that the corporation is looking to expand cloud services and artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities across the country, aligning with global trends in cybersecurity and data protection.
Meanwhile, to ensure minimum power supply security the plan for protection against digital attacks includes solarisation of NTC facilities
