PTA, stakeholders to form broadband group
November 17, 2008
ISLAMABAD: Dialogues between the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority and other stakeholders concerned have decided to form a broadband stakeholders group to study various aspects of the service and suggest measures to boost it.
The meeting was chaired by PTA Chairman Dr Mohammad Yaseen and attended by representatives of the Ministry of Information Technology, Universal Service Fund, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) R&D, Pakistan Software Export Board, broadband service providers, mobile phone operators, vendors, consultants and academia.
The participants suggested carrying out a study to assess the impact of present taxes on growth of telecom and ICT sectors. Based on results of the study, a case may be taken up accordingly by the Ministry of Information Technology with relevant ministries to eliminate or reduce taxes.
In his opening remarks, Dr Yaseen gave an overview of the telecom sector and highlighted broadband proliferation issues. He said during the past few years, different segments of telecom sector have shown exponential growth, however, broadband proliferation has been comparatively slow. He said percentage growth of broadband has been good but subscriber base is very less.
He highlighted the market potential for broadband in the country and asked the participants to give their suggestions for enhancing the broadband proliferation in the country.
The participants appreciated initiatives of PTA for holding this meeting on an issue of prime importance and expressed their views and made various recommendations.
The various issues which were discussed in the meeting included facilitation by the government and PTA, infrastructure related problems and difficulties, taxation by the government, development of contents, creating enabling environment and utilization of USF for broadband proliferation.
The participants were briefed about the projects undertaken by the USF for broadband. This included laying of optic fiber cable all over the country and a pilot project started in Faisalabad connecting schools, libraries and dispensaries.
They suggested that the government should give incentive to the ICT industry and play its role to create enabling environment taking on board all relevant ministries and departments.
They also proposed that focus should be given to rural areas where there is a great need of e-education and e-government and e-health. It was also pointed out that the “access” is the real impediment to the broadband proliferation, therefore, wireless technology is the best option for its development. In this regard, the availability of more spectrum was also highlighted.
It was suggested in the meeting that a study be carried out to assess the impact of present taxation on growth of telecom and ICT sectors. On the basis of the results of this study, a case may be taken up accordingly by MOIT with the relevant ministry for eliminating/reducing the taxes.
This was also decided in the meeting that PTA should lead the broadband stakeholders group. It was also highlighted that customer awareness campaign be also launched in order to expatiate the benefits of broadband.
IP Sniffing is Bad for Business
October 19, 2008
Companies working out of Pakistan have to compete with global operations in order to help foster the “robust technology infrastructure” image we project of Pakistan, their reliance on VOIP-generated services is immense. We live in 2008. Granted that VOIP has been used and abused since as early as the days of Net2Phone and the YapJack, but that was a different day and time.
According to a recent discussion with Barrister Zahid Jamil, an open system allows for facilitation by a legal entity as long as it doesn’t hinder economic progress. Hindering economic activity. Blocking IPs for companies that engage in support over VOIP software such as Skype where the companies are dependent on a handful of telephone lines, perhaps borders on hindering their economic progress.
Some companies who run VOIP software have had their IPs blocked for temporary durations, whereby continued VOIP activity will have the organization’s internet facility eventually terminated. These are call center operations or companies that offer tech support. Voice over IP is what the defacto standard of any competitive will become much like email or the web. When the world heads towards a trend of Convergence, Integration and Open standards, we’re still struggling with a certain amount of specific confusion.
What kind of an impact this will have on local companies is something that they will have to document and make a business case. A collaborative, well documented effort to explain to the PTA and other stakeholders how this ‘action’ will hit Pakistan’ ability to compete in the global economy is what the need of the hour is.
Whether we need another policy recommendation to add to what the regulator can and cannot do is something that might still take a long time to develop. The common sense question to ask is more along the lines of this: should the regulator ‘regulate’ or ‘litigate’?
Talk of the day: September 12, 2008
September 13, 2008
The Chairman of Pakistan Telecommunication Authority, Dr. Muhammad Yaseen, in a -press conference, declared that Telecom Sector has witnessed a decline in Foreign Direct Investment this year. The Chairman explained that the FDI was 27% at the end of the fiscal year 2007-08 and now, the FDI is 21%. The total FDI, during the past five years, in telecom sector has remained to 5$billions until now. [Read more]
Week In Review: Week ending on Saturday, the 2nd of August, 2008
August 2, 2008
President of Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Abdul Rauf Chaudary said that E-filing facility for submission of various applications has become a necessity for efficient Governance. He said that if we want to keep pace with modern world, we would have to meet the changing requirements of the time and implement integrated new machineries. He expressed these views on a Seminar, organized by Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce, to promote E-filing system in Pakistan. [Read more]
Week In Review: Week ending on Saturday, the 12th of July, 2008
July 13, 2008
There’s been so much going on this past week in IT and T, we’ve hardly had time to put it all together! But of course you know that’s not true, because here’s a look at this past week! (haha! We almost made a funny there!) [Read more]
Failure to block unverified SIMs: action to be taken against mobile companies
June 23, 2008
ISLAMABAD (June 21 2008): Strict action will be taken against the cellular companies for their failure to block all unverified SIMs within the deadline given by the Standing Committee on Interior. Chairman of the committee Senator Muhammad Talha Mehmood on Friday vowed to take action after June 30. [Read more]
PSEB and PTA working to frame guidelines for call centres
June 23, 2008
ISLAMABAD (June 21 2008): Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB) in collaboration with Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) is making targeted efforts to frame effective guidelines for the call centres running in the country so that they could continue uninterrupted operations of their services. [Read more]
What’s the deal with the illegal Sim Yaar?
June 20, 2008
There was a recent release in the local news where the Lahore Police Department actually made a valid suggestion to the PTA. Considering the PTA is this great mammoth organization that sits on the pulse that drives this nation, all the huff made over illegal sims and the disappointment of not catching or shutting down enough of them, really makes for senseless reading. (The fact that we actually read this stuff really tells you a lot about us!) [Read more]
Week In Review: Week ending on Saturday, the 14th of June, 2008
June 14, 2008
Wow! What a great week for Karachi! The City Nazim Karachi, Mustafa Kamal, has announced the establishment of world’s biggest call center in Karachi. Presently, Sydney has world’s biggest call center that has 8,000 call seats but the Nazim said that the IT Park that will take two years to establish and will be designed to accommodate 10,000 call seats under one roof. The CDGK, in true Mustafa Kamal style, has also arranged trainings for call centers with foreign instructors and a cost of 60,000 rupees is being allocated [Read more]
PTA devises strategies to stop obnoxious calls, balance theft
June 9, 2008
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has devised a strategy to address obnoxious calls, SMS and balance theft by negative minded cell-phone users.
Taking serious notice of the plight of cellphone subscribers, the PTA, as a first step, cautioned these negative elements to shun such practices or they would face consequences. The PTA has also sent a strict message to the mobile operators, instructing them to take immediate action against the swindlers on the complaint of a subscriber.
The PTA has also advised the mobile users to verify any prize announcement from the concerned mobile company. Finding it otherwise, get a complaint registered with the relevant mobile company.
The mobile companies have been directed to take action against the offender(s) which includes jamming of SIMS and handsets, without any delay. The Telecom Authority has also sounded a warning to the sender(s) of unsolicited, obnoxious SMSs and phone calls that legal action will be taken against them. The authority extended its assistance to the subscribers by establishing a complaint centre in August last year. It works round the clock seven days a week.
The complaints are forwarded by the PTA centre to the respective mobile companies for evaluation to be followed by warning to the offenders as the first step. The second and the final step will be the closure of numbers and blocking of SIMS/cellphones.
The PTA, extending ready help, has asked the aggrieved subscribers to register direct complaint at their toll free No 080055055 or 051-9225329-31 ext 155 or email at complaint @ pta.gov.pk.