PTA Makes it Harder for You to Register Complaints Against PTCL: ProPakistani

PTA Makes it Harder for You to Register Complaints Against PTCL
Directive Issued to Allow Maximum of 5 SIMs Against One CNIC
PTA Orders PTCL to Disconnect all Unregistered WLL Connections, Follow SOP for New Sales
Saudi Government to Give Free SIMs to Pakistani Hajj and Umrah Pilgrims

PTA Makes it Harder for You to Register Complaints Against PTCL

Posted: 10 Jul 2012 04:40 AM PDT

Pakistan Telecommunication Limited or also known as PTCL is notorious for its after sale support services.

Without any doubt, there would be customers not happy with PTCL services, be it the broadband or any other service offered by PTCL. Such customers would naturally want to register complaints against PTCL at PTA's website where the authority offers the telecom consumers to register their complaints online.

But you would be surprised to know that PTCL isn't even listed as an ISP in the said complaint form available at PTA's website for online complain registration, leaving no chance for consumers to register complaints against PTCL.

We have taken a screen shot for you – but you can visit PTA's website to check this your self:

Initially we thought this could be a human error and PTCL was probably left out by mistake but interestingly you won't be able to find PTCL even for Wireless Local Loop (WLL) category, creating an impression that PTCL was intentionally taken of the list.

Check following screen shot or visit PTA's website to verify this yourself.

Is this a deliberate attempt by someone to keep PTCL away from complaints?

Just to mention, PTA maintains and publishes the number of complaints (in its quarterly and annual reports) that it receives against all operators. Probably, this trick will make PTCL look lot better in PTA's quarterly and annual reports.

Thanks Abdullah Shakoor for the tip

Directive Issued to Allow Maximum of 5 SIMs Against One CNIC

Posted: 10 Jul 2012 02:02 AM PDT

Following the orders of Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudry, Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP), Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has introduced a significant change in "Subscriber Antecedents Verification Regulation 2010" by allowing maximum of 5 SIMs against one CNIC of any operator.

Earlier Chief Justice of Pakistan had ordered to make arrangements necessary to make sure that only one SIM could be issued against a single CNIC.

Before this directive, each CNIC holder could own 10 SIMs of one operator, or 40 SIMs of 4 cellular operators at most. But according to the new rule, one customer will be able to hold maximum of 5 SIMs against his/her CNIC of one or multiple operators.

Government of Pakistan's SRO that revised old regulation said:

Amendment of Regulation 7, SRO 1189(1)/2010 of 2010 – at page 3975 regulation 7 shall be substituted and read as following:

"Maximum number of SIM(s) to be issued to individual CNIC holders – All CNIC holders shall be entitled to purchase in their name up to a maximum of five SIM(s) whether from one or more operators"

Reportedly, the directive has been received by mobile cellular operators and they are evaluating their options for the implementation of this order.

The status of those connections that have been sold in past and are in access of 5 in number on one CNIC is still unclear. Industry is hoping that this rule will be applicable on new sales only and those connections that have already been sold will not be impacted.

An official of a cellular operator argued that directive from Pakistan Telecommunication Authority doesn't explain the status of already sold SIMs, for which industry will wait for Standard Operating Procedures that might not be made available soon given the Chairman PTA is stepping down on July 24th, 2012.

Officials of telecom industry believe that issuing the directive is meaningless unless the standard operating procedures aren't revised by PTA. He maintained that blockade of old connections exceeding 5 SIMs on single CNIC will arise serious issues for customers and mobile companies.

Analysts believe that this directive is not implementable unless authority keeps a check on mobile companies' records. They opined that cellular mobile operators will have to keep track of number of SIMs issued on one CNIC and should deny activation for more than 5 SIMs on single CNIC at 789 activation phase – which isn't happening as of now at least.

A legal expert, when contacted for opinion, said that Supreme Court can take suo motu notice if its judgments aren't implemented by PTA, for which telecom authority is suppose to submit a compliance report with in specific time frame.

It is feared that number of mobile connection will notably come down if this rule of 5 SIMs on single CNIC is implemented on already sold SIMs too.

Note: Customers can check number of SIMs issued on their CNIC through 668 service or by clicking on this link: http://www.pta.gov.pk/668/.

PTA Orders PTCL to Disconnect all Unregistered WLL Connections, Follow SOP for New Sales

Posted: 09 Jul 2012 11:00 PM PDT

PTA, after issuing a show cause notice and hearing PTCL's viewpoint, has directed the company to make necessary arrangements for meeting the requirements for new WLL sales as mentioned in the PTA's standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for Wireless Local Loop Subscribers', which require Documentation and Activation of Connections after Verification from NADRA.

PTA further directed PTCL to disconnect all numbers issued in excess in contravention of SOP, subject to verification with the subscribers and submit a compliance report to the Authority within seven days from the date of issuance of the order.

PTA in its order maintained that any illegal activity if committed on the numbers/connection issued by PTCL in contravention of the SOP, the licensee would be held liable and responsible for all legal consequences.

PTA said that in order to ensure the applicability of the SOP for WLL sales, authority sought information from PTCL with regard to subscriber's information through e-mails and letters in late 2011 and required it to furnish Wireless Service Agreement (WSAFs), CNICs copies of 98 VPTCL numbers and Antecedents of 76 VPTCL subscribers.

In response to which PTCL was unable to provided any of the details to authority, which lead PTA to issue a show cause notice to PTCL to explain the situation.

After getting responses from PTCL through letters and hearings, PTA concluded that PTCL had failed to meet the requirements as mentioned in the SOP for new sales and directed the company to follow rules and disconnect all old numbers that were not having proper registrations.

You can download PTA's order by clicking this link (PDF File – 253 KB)

This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Saudi Government to Give Free SIMs to Pakistani Hajj and Umrah Pilgrims

Posted: 09 Jul 2012 10:22 PM PDT

Hajj and Umrah pilgrims travelling from Pakistan to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will receive a free mobile SIM from Mobily, a Saudi mobile phone company, under sponsorship from the Hajeej International and Aroma Group of Companies.

Pilgrims will now be able to concentrate on performing their religious duties instead of wasting time searching for mobile phone SIMs.

Similarly, Indian Government, in association with the Saudi Government will provide free mobile phone SIMs to Indian pilgrims who will leave for Saudi Arabia. These SIM cards will have all the important numbers so that it could help the pilgrim in case of emergency.

It merits mentioning here that all cellular mobile operators in Pakistan offer decreased roaming charges and free international roaming activation (on prepaid subscriptions) for those travelling to Saudi Arabia for Hajj or Umrah.

Moreover, receiving SMS on all Pakistani networks in Saudi Arabia, while on roaming, is free of charge.

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Tuesday, July 10, 2012