Posted by: Aamir Attaa on September 10, 2008 at 4:38 PM
Long Distance and International (LDI) operators have agreed to set up a system jointly at PTA for Reconciliation of International Telephony Traffic (RITT).
This decision was taken in a meeting held at PTA Head Quarters, presided over by Chairman PTA Dr. Mohammed Yaseen.
It was decided that the funding of Phase 1(a) of the RITT System would be done based upon the 
International incoming traffic share of each LDI for the months of April, May and June, 2008.
The funding of subsequent phases would be done by calculating running average of international incoming traffic starting from April, 2008 and extending up to the month when the share is being calculated for new contract.
It was said in the meeting that Monitoring & Reconciliation of International Telephony Traffic Regulations were sent to all stake-holders for their inputs. The regulations were finalized after incorporating the received comments and were approved by the all LDI operators.
The Letter of Intent (LoI) for the expansion project of technical facility to curb grey telephony would be issued by PTCL being the consortium head. The contract for the project would be signed by PTCL or jointly by all LDI operators whichever is decided amongst themselves.
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Posted by: Aamir Attaa on September 7, 2008 at 10:50 AM
Pakistan Telecommunication Authority has decided to take conclusive measures against PTCL, in case they fail to resolve “Pakistan Package” issue with the authority and other LDI/LL companies in the country.
High level industry sources have revealed that PTA has decided to take severe and conclusive measures against PTCL that has not withdrawn Pakistan Package, despite repetitive directives from the authority.
Sources said that PTCL’s Pakistan Package had raised serious concerns for LDI/LL operators of the country, who have requested Pakistan Telecommunication Authority to play its role in detaining PTCL from continuing its free nation wide calling package, as it is causing them serious losses to their businesses. In response to which authority has directed PTCL to have meeting with LDI/LL operators to get their consent on Pakistan Package within 10 days, other wise authority will have to take decision to hold up the continuity of Pakistan Package.
On an additional note, PTCL launched other packages such as “Phone N Net” and “International Plus Packages” without the approval of the PTA, told a source. On which PTA has warned landline giant to not to repeat this practice again. It maybe recalled that all telecom operators, especially Significant Market Players (SMP) must inform the authority prior to launch of any package.
It merits mentioning here that PTA had directed PTCL to quit Pakistan Package by August 31, 2008, but those directions were put on deaf ears by PTCL administration. Telecom analysts are unable to comprehend PTA’s defensive mode against PTCL, which has been repetitively violating PTA’s directives and apparently PTCL is bluntly ruling the Telecom Sector of Pakistan without any regulations.
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Posted by: Aamir Attaa on September 4, 2008 at 11:17 AM
PTCL, today through print advertisments, has announced that they have further lowered monthly rental for Phone N Net Internet service. Previously this Unlimited Internet was Rs. 299 Per Month, but now as they term it a Ramazan Offer, Phone N Net Unlimited (dial-up) Interene will be avilable to PTCL users for just Rs. 199 per month.
It merits mentioning here that the monthly rental for this dial-up internet service will come along with your telephone bill. Means you don’t have to pay sepratly for this service.
Salient features:
- Package Fixed Monthly Charge:Rs. 199
- Unlimited Access
- Unlimited Download
- No balance Expiry
- Strong geographic presence
- No GST applicable on Internet package
- Modem On Hold feature
- Alpha numeric Login name of your own choice during order entry other than your landline number
- Default password ” ptcl”
- Login number 13177777
Service Mechanics:
PTCL subscribers can subscribe to Unlimited Package in the following two ways:
- Through Walk-In near OSS or any PTCL outlet
- Through Call Center by calling ‘1236’ and talking to CSR
- Through Call Center by calling ‘080080800’ and talking to CSR
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Posted by: Aamir Attaa on September 2, 2008 at 8:44 AM
We spoke a lot about PTA’s role in Telecom industry of Pakistan, where it took plenty of initiatives for the betterment of industry and our national economy, but on other hands, telecom companies very boldly kept on challenging the authority by not accepting its directives.
Very recent example of this disrespect is demonstrated by PTCL, when the landline company was directed to quit its “Pakistan Package” by August 31, 2008. However, it was not happened so…! (and this direction came after a reconsideration request by PTCL… hence it was second directive from authority)
To recall our memories, lets review the content of that official letter sent by PTA to PTCL Dated: July 30, 2008 – Ref: 15-18/08(CA)/PTA
Authority regret to inform PTCL that request for reconsideration of PTA’s decision (over the withdrawal of Pakistan Package) cannot be accepted to and authority’s directives dated 25th June, 2008 should be implemented in true letter spirit by PTCL. However, as PTCL has still not informed its subscribers about the withdrawal of Pakistan Package as directed by authority, company is directed to publicize the effect of abolishing Pakistan Package within 10 days of this letter and the Pakistan Package shall be withdrawn by PTCL by 31st August, 2008
There could be two good reasons that PTCL did not withdraw Packistan Package, either they took stay from court, or in other case they just didn’t bother much about these letters they receive from PTA on daily basis…! or Maybe, they asked for another reconsideration…!
I leave it upto my readers to decide the rest ….
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Posted by: Aamir Attaa on September 2, 2008 at 6:39 AM
Thanks to Mr. Mudassar Jehangir, Editor-in-Chief, More Magazine, who did this service Review of “PTCL’s Smart IPTV” and allowed me to post it here.
I received two calls in the third week of August from the sales staff of PTCL confirming from me the order of “Smart IPTV connection”. Before the installation, my telephone line was checked by the staff to confirm the signal strength.
IPTV won’t run properly if data downstream and upstream value is lower than 10 in your phone line. In case it is less than 10, the transmission will be jerky.
The installation was just a process of 1 hour. My old broadband modem was replaced by the new modem of Huawei. From the modem you can get two CAT 5 (network) cables for the out put. One goes to the computer for the internet connection and other goes to the set-top box, a device which makes the transmission possible. Technically, set-top box (STB) is a device that connects to a television and an external source of signal, turning the signal into content which is then displayed on the television screen.
The old PTCL logo was visible on the top left corner of the box which revealed that the smart IPTV project was designed to be launched in the year 2006 and it must have been put on hold due to certain reasons.
To activate the STB, there is a content security IRDETO ZETA smart card which is inserted into the box to unlock the transmission. Basically this is the card that makes possible the desired TV contents and the revenue. For the information, IRDETO is an Amsterdam based company which is into Digital TV content business since 1969.
Once the card is inserted and STB turned on, same old PTCL logo appears on the welcome screen which confirms the project’s roots back in 2006.
At the start, the main menu screen provides options to choose either live transmission or Video on Demand (VOD). The pause and rewind option is available for few of the live channels. Currently PTCL provides a reverse transmission for 2 and half hours which it plans to extend for more hours in the future.
Overall the quality of live transmission is impressive and unlike conventional TV cable the result is High Definition from 1st to over 100th channel. Initially PTCL had announced a free service of IPTV for 15 days which it has extended for one more month just like it did with the broadband services.
The Video on Demand (VOD) section requires more attention as the already saved movies (both Hollywood and Bollywood) on the server are obsolete, it is bearable for a temporary period but very soon PTCL will need to update its database and include new collection because it is a paid section and subscriber is required to pay Rs. 50 every time he/she select and item.
The service also allows parents to lock and unlock any channel, and allows users to search for their movies and TV shows by title and cast listing and then watch them on-demand.
Smart IPTV service is only possible on places where PTCL broadband is already running. Homes or offices where broadband connection is a requirement, Smart IPTV will be a point of attraction. On a 1 MB connection the total monthly fee becomes Rs. 2300 provided you have purchased the Set Top Box for Rs. 9995.
PTCL was smart enough to start selling the broadband connection well before the IPTV launch. According to company’s statistics it has sold more than 50,000 broadband connections so far. The prospects of selling IPTV connections are therefore higher on already installed broadband connections.
Only time will tell how quickly it can become a replacement to the conventional cable which still cost Rs. 100 to 200 and has huge acceptability among masses. The availability of service largely depends on the condition of copper wire that goes to the customer’s premises.
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Posted by: Aamir Attaa on August 3, 2008 at 5:15 PM
PTCL says that it is offering its customers un-metered (unlimited) dialup internet for Rs. 299 only. So no scratch cards, no bills for dialup internet now, just a single bill for both PTCL phone and internet.
Note: PTCL’s Phone n Net unlimited internet is available for only PTCL Landline customers
How to subscribe
Call ‘1236’ or ‘080080800’ and ask CSR (Customer Support Representative) to activate your Phone n Net unlimited Package.
CSR will give you a login name and password to start going with Unlimited Internet at a smooth rent.
Salient features:
- Package Fixed Monthly Charge:Rs. 299
- Unlimited Access
- Unlimited Download
- No balance Expiry
- No GST applicable on Internet package
- Modem On Hold feature
- Login name of your own choice during order entry
- Login number 13177777
Note: There was another package called Phone n Net which offered internet at 0.10 per minute. Please dont mix that package with this one. This unlimited dialup package is named as “Phone n Net Unlimited”
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Posted by: Aamir Attaa on August 1, 2008 at 12:39 PM
Pakistan Package by PTCL is going to see an end by August 31st, 2008. PTCL administration is obviously not in favor of this withdrawal; however PTA has directed the company to abolish the said package by the end of current month in order to maintain a pricing balance amongst market players. Directions came after an appeal by PTCL to the regulator that it wants to continue Pakistan Package was turned down by authority. PTA has directed the company to inform their customers by August 10th, 2008 about the removal of this Package.
Directives by PTA, dated July 30 2008 says that PTCL’s justifications to carry on Pakistan package are unreal for instance PTCL in its appeal said that Pakistan Package is selected by customers on voluntary basis however it was not the case; PTCL’s package was imposed forcefully for all customers of PTCL and majority of them showed strong resentment against this imposition. PTA said that it is still receiving complaints from general public regarding refund/adjustment and deactivation of Pakistan Package.
According to PTA only 25 percent of PTCL subscribers are availing Pakistan Package, majority of which are corporate clients with heavy traffic load. PTA has advised PTCL that this is actually in their own benefit to quit the package to maximize its revenues from those corporate clients.
In another justification PTCL said that Pakistan Package was facilitating its customers, in response to which PTA has responded that this fact is not true. Authority said that PTCL has lowered local call pulse rate from 5 to 3 minutes, along with the company is charging highest tariffs for fixed-to-mobile calls, which is defiantly not act of facilitation for customers.
PTA directive said that PTCL must publicize that it is quitting Pakistan Package before August 10th 2008 before taking it down from August 31st, 2008
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Posted by: Aamir Attaa on July 30, 2008 at 7:21 AM
It is reported that with the grace of Allah, dialogues between PTCL Administrations and United Workers’ Union. PTCL administration went successful and that PTCL administration has accepted almost all demands from employees’ union, which in return put their 2 weeks’ long strike over with immediate effect.
Geo TV reported late night (July 30, 2008) that dialogues between PTCL administration and PTCL Workers Union reached to a conclusive agreement. Main points of agreement are
- Strike will be over
- 35 percent increment in salary for regular employees (In effect from July 1, 2008)
- 8,000 contract employees will be promoted to regular employment
- Regular employees will get all benefits but no pension (retirement fund)
- Salary increment for contract employees will be decided by a committee of eight members (5 from Workers’ Union and 3 from PTCL administration)
A welcome news for Telecom sector and Pakistan. And we must appriciate PTCL administration for taking positive turn, though it was little late… but all is well that ends well.
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International incoming traffic share of each LDI for the months of April, May and June, 2008.
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