Drive to check unauthorised sale of SIM & 3G WiMAX

The News - International, Pakistan

Drive to check unauthorised sale of SIM
By our correspondent

KARACHI: The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has started checking unauthorised sale of new subscriber identity module (SIM) from August 1 across the country to ensure that new mobile connections are issued after proper documentation.
“Various teams of PTA Zonal offices at Lahore, Karachi, Quetta, Peshawar and Multan would carry out surprise checks and inspections in their respective areas,” said a statement on Thursday.
“The PTA would start sealing those franchises which were not complying with PTA regulations on issuance of new cell phone SIM and concerned company will be asked to cancel its franchise. After these inspections, companies will also be asked to take remedial measures and ensure implementation of PTA directives in this regard.”
It said the PTA had taken a number of steps to deal with this issue and has directed cellular mobile companies to ensure that new SIM were sold only through its franchises or authorized dealers.
“Similarly, mobile companies are running ads in the press wherein they have advised their users to get their connections transferred in their names if they have not as yet done so. Companies are also sending short messages to subscribers in this regard,” added the statement.
It said the PTA had directed the mobile companies to get their data streamlined at their end by August 31, 2007. The companies would provide complete data of their subscriber’s to NADRA for verification purposes, added the statement.



3G WiMAX coming to Pakistan soon
By our correspondent

LAHORE: The Chairman, Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), Major General (Retd) Shahzada Alam Malik, has said that 3G technology WiMAX would get its way into Pakistan market within a couple of months.
“A Gulf-based company is rolling out this technology in the region soon to help introduce eight-digit mobile phone numbers,” he said while speaking at the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) on Thursday.
He urged the local businessmen to benefit from the opportunities in mobile phone handset manufacturing by setting up units as Pakistan is presently spending huge foreign exchange on the import of millions of sets every year.
Talking about the rising mobile phone density in the country, he said that the number of mobile phone subscribers had swelled to 65 million as two million new subscribers are added every month.
He said that mobile teledensity in Pakistan had touched the enviable mark of 45 percent in just few years.
About fixed line phone growth in the country, Malik said that the growth in this conventional telecom system was now stagnant. “More lines were being laid to provide triple play facilities to the people i.e. internet, telephone and TV in the towns like Lahore and Islamabad.” Responding to a question, the PTA chief said that the Authority’s efforts to curb the mobile phone theft in the country had started yielding positive results. The use of IMEI system had led to blocking of 100,000 stolen mobile phones in the country over a very short period of time.
He said that the business friendly policies had attracted foreign direct investment worth $1.9 billion each during the fiscal years 2006 and 2007.
He said that new entrants in the mobile phone sector had led to great competition in this vital segment of the Pakistani economy, development of more physical infrastructure and creation of jobs.” The number of cell sites in Pakistan has touched the level of 11,800 in June 2007 from 360 in 2003.” Speaking on the occasion, the LCCI President, Shahid Hassan Sheikh, urged the chairman PTA to ensure the provision of DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) service to industrial zones in Pakistan that are suffering because of inadequate DSL services.
The LCCI President said that it was generally observed that whenever there is rainfall, a large number of phone lines go out of order for having connection with underground cable; this is an issue of prime importance for any business firm or industrial concern.
The PTA should give the issue a special consideration as it is pre-requisite for keeping pace with fast growing economy.
Shahid Hassan Sheikh said that line rent being charged by the PTCL was too high so it should be curtailed as in the year 2006, the PTCL earned a profit of Rs20.77 billion.
He urged the PTA Chairman to direct mobile operators to improve quality of their services as the services of some of the mobile operators is not up to the mark.
He also invited the attention of the Chairman towards the repeated disconnection of internet services being provided by ISPs through PTCL.
The LCCI President said that all the banks are charging 15 per cent interest on loans for whole year, the PTCL is charging a surcharge of 10 per cent on late payment.
This is too high surcharge for late payment, this surcharge is totally unjustified and tantamount to exploit the customers, it is suggested that the surcharge is reviewed and brought at par with bank rate.