The 668 Sim Information campaign is playing a vital role in withdrawal of unauthorized registered SIMs. PTA have taken it a step forward, now it is also available on mobile via SMS. Users who wish to check on the SIMs registered against their CNIC can now send their CNIC number (without dash/space) t0 668 and get a prompt reply with details of name of service provider and number of SIMs.

This step shows how serious PTA is elimination of all unauthorized SIMs. Customers who have not yet checked on their SIM information should do it now and if any discrepancy is found visit nearest concerned service center to get it fixed.

Pakistan Telecommunications Authority (PTA) has formulated two sets of Key Performance Indicators (KPI’s) to improve and monitor the Quality of Service (QoS) of “Fixed Broadband” and “GPRS/EDGE” networks.

The objective of introducing these KPIs is to create transparency and set monitor-able standards in fixed broadband and GPRS/EDGE services hence ensuring consumers’ satisfaction. Extensive consultations with the relevant operators and stakeholders were carried out for the development of these QoS parameters. The KPIs were finalized after discussing the varying views in detail with all concerned bodies which were incorporated in the final version. The document has also been made available on PTA’s website (www.pta.gov.pk).

The KPIs have been developed through keeping in view their Applicability, Possibility of End-to-End testing (non-intrusive for network under test), Ease of measurement, Ease of understanding for a field testing person, similar treatment of rural and urban regions in terms of service offerings and a push for future improvement in wireless broadband networking. The KPIs’ suite envelops parameters like Network Availability, Service availability, link speed, retainability, bandwidth, contention ratio, round trip time, tariff comparison, customer service complaints, billing complaints and service provisioning complaints, as appropriate.

It may be mentioned that GPRS (General Packet Radio service) and EDGE (Enhanced Data rate for GSM Evolution) are GSM wireless packet data transfer standards commonly referred to as 2.5G and 2.75G respectively. Using these networks; services like internet connectivity, Push-based email solutions with attachment facility, Pull-based services, instant Messenger etc are being offered to help in accessing personal or official information while roaming locally or globally. Better GPRS/EDGE networks are also necessary for introduction of more innovative Value Added Services (VAS) in future.

PTA has been striving to serve the telecom and ICT sector of Pakistan for its growth and development through different initiatives. Introduction of KPI’s for Broadband Services is an effort to achieve PTA’s vision of “Protecting Consumer Interest and ensuring high Quality ICT services”.

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Pakistan Telecommunication Authority has published a Consultation Paper on the issue of revising (downwards) the prevalent Bandwidth Tariffs in Pakistan. As most readers of this blog must be aware, the earlier orders of downward rates revision of PTA were met with stiff resistance from the born-again PTCL which revised the rates based on its own scheme (and which were higher than what PTA was asking for).

This is not the first time the watchdog body has been made to appear a lapdog entity by the high handedness of PTCL. Anyways, PTA has published a new Consultation Paper on Bandwidth Tariff on its website yesterday.

According to the PTA’s website:

This Consultation Paper is an extension to the Consultation Paper issued by the Authority on April 17, 2006. The purpose of this paper is to seek response of stakeholders including the ISPs, Call Centres & LL/LDI operators on the questions raised in the Paper. The stakeholders are requested to send their comments on the Paper in writing within 15 days. This Paper does not convey in any sense a decision of the Authority in respect of the issues discussed in this Paper. Your response, queries and clarifications may be addressed to Ms. Fatima Khushnud, Assistant Director (fatima@pta.gov.pk) and Mr. Aadil Umar Khalil, Assistant Director (aadil@pta.gov.pk) PTA Building, F-5/1 Islamabad Fax: +92-51-2878133

After a tumultuous year, the Pakistan telecom industry is back on the road to recovery. Its good to see November 2009 show some healthy growth of about 800K new subscribers. Total cellular subscribers are 96.7 million (with ~285K for SCO and AJK). Here are the month-to-month gains with the most successful operator at the top:

1.Telenor: 304,178
2.Mobilink: 204,419
3.Warid: 134,010
4.Zong: 117,143
5.Ufone: 31,105

Telenor continues its successful streak and tops 22 million subscribers, an impressive performance in a tough year. Mobilink, with 30.5 million is certainly back in action and deserves a pat on the back for fighting back. Warid is doing a decent job with 18.7 million. Zong has picked up more subscribers than earlier months but struggles to go over 7 million. Ufone is seriously behind others – one has to wonder what happened to them.

So the cellular industry is still waiting for its century (Target: 100 million) , now expected in Feb/March 2010. At least we are back on track.

PTA issued this warning in local newspapers (source: TGP). I see two good things here: First, the action to move agains the unwanted text messages and a number where people can call to register their concerns. Second, the ad copy is mostly written in urdu terms, avoiding unnecessary English terms about which we complained earlier. But note how Telenor becomes “Telenar” as written here.

Good start but this will require more work by PTA to clarify the “code of conduct” for sending sms. I hope that soon we will see some more information on PTA site about this initiative.