The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has officially renewed the operational license of the Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) for the next 25 years.
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PTCL license expires
KARACHI: The business operation license of Pakistan Communication Company Limited (PTCL) expired on December 31, 2020 and the company is in discussions with the regulator for the renewal, a statement said on Friday.
According to a communication sent to Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX), the PTCL said that the integrated license was issued for 25 years effective from January 01, 1996 and valid under December 31, 2020.
Therefore subsequent renewal was required effective form January 01, 2021.
As per terms of PTCL license, PTCL initiated the renewal process by formally requesting Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) on June 29, 2018 (30 months prior to the expiry / validity of the license).
The PTA responded in affirmative through its letter dated October 01, 2018 that PTCL’s license will be renewed in accordance with the government policy prevalent at the time of renewal.
“Therefore, in the interest of business continuity and operations, PTCL has sought permanent injunction on December 18, 2020 from the Sindh High Court at Karachi by way of filing Suit No. 2081/2020 wherein PTA is restrained from taking any adverse action against the PTCL on expiry of license on December 31, 2020 and not to interfere in the business of PTCL and the provision of services on the basis of license.”
The company said that it was in discussions with the PTA and the federal government to finalize the terms and conditions of the renewed license. “PTCL is confident its license will be renewed at the earliest,” it added.
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Committee discusses unsold spectrum of next generation mobile services
ISLAMABAD: Dr. Abdul Hafeez Shaikh, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Finance and Revenue on Thursday chaired a meeting of the advisory committee for the release of unsold spectrum of next generation mobile services (NGMS).
Minister for Science and Technology, Fawad Chaudhry also participated in the meeting.
The committee was briefed by Chairman PTA and Secretary, Ministry of Information Technology about the latest developments on the sale of available spectrum of next generation mobile services.
The members of Frequency Allocation Board also shared their input on the subject.
The committee was briefed that the process for hiring of the consultant for the sale of available spectrum would be completed within 60 days and report will be prepared and submitted before the committee accordingly.
It is expected that the initial report will be ready by December 2020.
The process for the sale of spectrum will follow after the hiring of the consultant and tentatively would be completed within this financial year.
Adviser Finance, as Chairman of the Committee, directed to complete the task of the hiring of the consultant at the earliest.
He also stated that the whole process of auction must be transparent and an officer may be designated to apprise the public about the progress regarding sale of spectrum on regular basis.
The whole process would contribute towards strengthening and expanding communications / IT Services across the country, would create more job opportunities, and improve the ease of doing business.
The next meeting of the Advisory Committee is expected to take place in December 2020.
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Mobile phone operators deduct only applicable tax rates: PTA
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) on Friday said that the Cellular Mobile Operators (CMOs) are deducting only applicable rates of taxes after the restoration of levies by Supreme Court of Pakistan.
In a statement, with reference to taxes applied on the recharge/reload of prepaid balance, the PTA said that the CMOs are deducting only withholding tax and general sales tax/federal excise duty on the prepaid recharge/reload after restoration of taxes by the Supreme Court of Pakistan from April 2019.
The PTA said that on the recharge of Rs200 balance provided to the user is Rs177.778 (and not Rs152 as reported on the social media) after deduction of Rs22.22 against withholding tax at 12.5 percent.
General Sales Tax at 19.5 percent is applied on per call, SMS, data usage basis or opting for any additional bundle/package.
“When a user consumes its remaining balance of Rs177.778, a total of Rs29.01 as GST is charged,” the PTA said.
In the same way, if a package is priced at Rs167 (without GST), the same, requires a prepaid balance of Rs199.56 (Price+GST=Rs167+Rs32.56). Due to lack of clarity on the deduction of GST in addition to withholding tax, mobile subscribers are assuming that CMOs are charging well above applicable taxes, which is not correct, the PTA said.
The PTA further said that it had fixed a ceiling on call setup charges at Re 0.15 per call. PTA is vigilant about the rates/tariffs being charged by CMOs and action will be initiated on any reported incidence of charging above the published tariffs and applicable taxes in accordance with the law, it added.
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PTA asks TikTok to block immoral content
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has asked administration of TikTok platform to block/remove immoral and vulgar content for viewership in Pakistan.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the telecom authority asked TikTok platform to immediately block vulgar, inducement, immoral, nude content for viewership in Pakistan.
The PTA has done so keeping in view the negative effects of indecent/immoral/nude content available on the platform.
The PTA has approached TikTok to immediately ensure blocking of objectionable contect and to prevent the usage of its platform for disseminating illegal content.
In addition, the platform has been directed to put in place an effective content monitoring and moderation mechanism to proactively remove indecent/ immoral content failing which necessary action will be taken under the law.
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PTA lifts ban on PUBG
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) on Thursday lifted ban on PUBG game after a meeting with representative of the company.
The PTA in a statement said that a meeting was held between PTA and legal representatives of Proxima Beta Pte Ltd (PB).
The PB representatives briefed the authority on response to queries raised by the PTA with respect to controls put in place by PB to prevent misuse of the gaming platform.
The authority expressed its satisfaction on measures adopted by the PB so far, and emphasized on continued engagement and a comprehensive control mechanism.
The representative of the company welcomed PTA’s feedback on the issue and assured that the concerns of the PTA would be taken into account. In addition, the company requested PTA to unban PUBG.
“Keeping in view the positive engagement and response of the company, the authority has decided to unban PUBG,” according to the statement.
On July 27, 2020 the PTA issued a detailed order regarding blocking of online game PUBG. The order was issued in accordance with Islamabad High Court’s order after a hearing conducted by PTA on July 9 and in accordance with the provisions of PECA 2016.
The PTA in the statement said that it had provided an opportunity of hearing to concerned parties including PUBG’s lawyers. As per the order of the authority, the PUBG game shall remained blocked in Pakistan.
The PTA had also approached PUBG management to inform about a suitable framework to address key concerns. No response was received from PUBG.
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PTA blocks Bigo, warns Tik Tok for vulgar content
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) on Monday blocked social media Bigo and issued final warning to Tik Tok on complaints of obscene and vulgar content.
The PTA said that it had received number of complaints from different segment of the society against immoral, obscene and vulgar content on social media applications particularly Tik Tok and Bigo, and their extremely negative effects on the society in general and youth in particular.
The PTA had issued necessary notices to the aforementioned social media companies under law to moderate the socialization and content within legal and moral limits, in accordance with the laws of the country. “However, the response of these companies has not been satisfactory,” the PTA added.
“Therefore, in exercise of its powers under PECA, PTA has decided to immediately block Bigo and issue final warning to Tik Tok to put in place a comprehensive mechanism to control obscenity, vulgarity and immorality through its social media application.”
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PTA suspends PUBG
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) on Wednesday suspended online gaming application namely PUBG with immediate effect due to adverse effect on children health.
According to a statement issued by the authority it had received complaints from different segments of society. Therefore, it has been decided to suspend the PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG) game.
The PTA has received numerous complaints against PUBG wherein it is stated that the game is addictive, wastage of time and poses serious negative impact on physical and psychological health of the Children.
The authority noted that cases of suicide attribute to PUBG game were reported. The Lahore High Court (LHC) has also directed PTA to look into the issue and decide the matter after hearing the complaints. In this regard, a hearing is being conducted on July 09, 2020.
The authority also decided to solicit views of the public with reference to the said online game. In this regard public is encouraged to provide feedback through [email protected] by July 10, 2020.
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Pakistan imports mobile phones worth Rs18.2 billion in March
KARACHI: Pakistanis have spent Rs18.2 billion for import of mobile phones in March 2020 despite the reality of business halt after lockdown to contain coronavirus.
According to data released by Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS), the import of mobile phones was at Rs18.2 billion in March 2020 as compared with Rs16.13 billion worth mobile phones imported in February 2020, which is 12.72 percent higher.
The import is 65 percent is higher in the month of March 2020 when compared with Rs11 billion in the same month of the last year.
Industry sources explained that the rise in import of mobile phones was due to return of many Pakistanis living abroad due to spread of coronavirus.
They said overall import during the month contracted due to several restriction after the outbreak of coronavirus.
The overall import of mobile phone increased by 107.76 percent to Rs153 billion in July – March 2019/2020 as compared with Rs73.64 billion in the corresponding period of the last fiscal year.
The unprecedented growth during the period was due to strict enforcement against smuggling of mobile phones. Besides, registration through a platform provided by Pakistan Telecom Authority (PTA) also encouraged the use of registered mobile phones in the country.
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PTA monitors telecom operators amid coronavirus pandemic
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) is monitoring packages offered by telecom operators amid coronavirus pandemic.
A statement issued on Monday, the PTA said that the telecom operators have launched many offers/initiatives for their subscribers.
Some are offering discounts or temporary upgrades at low or no cost during the crisis to help their subscribers stay connected.
Details of these offers/packages are being regularly updated on PTA’s official website: www.pta.gov.pk
In view of coronavirus pandemic and to provide immediate ease and facilitation to the general public, PTA has taken number of initiatives.
These steps include sending awareness messages to subscribers for protection from Corona. So far 811.97 million messages have been sent since 19th March 2020 in Urdu, English and regional languages to mobile users across Pakistan.
Awareness SMSs in Urdu and English have also been sent to the travelers/suspected persons who may have come into contact with coronavirus patients during travelling.
More than 0.53 million messages have been sent to the travelers and suspected persons since 19th March 2020. Similarly, Corona Awareness Ring Back Tones (RBTs) have been initiated on 131.75 million subscribers’ mobile devices.
To facilitate operations of educational institutions, call centers etc. 72 IPs have been whitelisted since 19th March 2020.
During the period, PTA has allocated 12 different short codes and 6 UAN (Toll Free) numbers to Government entities working on controlling the pandemic.
PTA has also facilitated in arranging donations by Mobile users in ‘Prime Minister’s COVID-19 Pandemic Relief Fund-2020′. Mobile subscribers can donate Rs 20/SMS by sending a text message on code 6677.