Company:Pakistan Telecommunication Authority

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Pakistan Telecommunication Authority
Pakistan Telecommunication Authority
پاکستان ٹیلی کام اتھارٹی
PakTelecom.png
AbbreviationPTA
Established1996
HeadquartersIslamabad
Region served
Pakistan
Chairman
Major General Amir Azeem Bajwa HI(M) (Retd.)
Key people
Chairman, Member Finance, Member Compliance and Enforcement
Parent organization
Cabinet Division, Government of Pakistan
Websitewww.pta.gov.pk

The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) (Urdu: پاکستان ٹیلی کام اتھارٹی‎) is the telecommunication regulator of Pakistan, responsible for the establishment, operation and maintenance of telecommunication systems and the provision of telecommunication services in Pakistan. Headquartered in Islamabad, PTA also has regional offices located in Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar, Quetta, Muzaffarabad, Rawalpindi, Multan and Gilgit.

History

The Pakistan Telecommunication Ordinance 1994, established the primary regulatory framework for the telecommunication industry including the establishment of an authority. Thereafter, Telecommunication (Re-Organization) Act no XVII was promulgated in 1996 that aimed to reorganize the telecom sector of Pakistan. Under Telecom Reorganization Act 1996, Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) was established in 1996 to regulate the establishment, operation and maintenance of telecommunication systems and the provision of telecom services.[1]

Functions

To regulate the establishment, operation and maintenance of telecommunication systems and provision of telecommunication services in Pakistan. To receive and expeditiously dispose of applications for the use of radio-frequency spectrum. To promote and protect the interests of users of telecommunication services in Pakistan. To promote the availability of a wide range of high quality, efficient, cost effective and competitive telecommunication services throughout Pakistan. To promote rapid modernization of telecommunication systems and telecommunication services. To investigate and adjudicate on complaints and other claims made against licensees arising out of alleged contraventions of the provisions of this Act, the rules made and licenses issued there under and take action accordingly. To make recommendations to the Federal Government on policies with respect to international telecommunications, provision of support for participation in international meetings and agreements to be executed in relation to the routing of international traffic and accounting settlements.[2]

Responsibilities of Authority

In exercising its functions and powers under the Act, the authority ensures:

  • Rights of licensees are duly protected.
  • All of its decisions and determinations are made promptly, in an open equitable, non discriminatory, consistent and transparent manner.
  • All applications made to it are disposed of expeditiously;
  • The persons affected by its decisions or determination are given a due notice thereof and provided with an opportunity of being heard.
  • It encourages, except subject to the exclusive right of the company in basic telephone service, fair competition in the telecommunication sector.
  • The interest of users of telecommunication services are duly safeguarded and protected.
  • Preventing unlawful online content.

Leadership

The Authority consists of a Chairman, Member (Finance) and Member (Compliance & Enforcement).

Current

Major General (R) Amir Azeem Bajwa HI(M) is currently serving as Chairman of PTA.  Muhammad Naveed is Member (Finance) and Dr. Khawar Siddique Khokhar is Member (Compliance & Enforcement).[3]

Licensing

Acting Chairman Muhammad Naveed with Houlin Zhao in 2018

PTA, has given number of Mobile, Fixed Line licenses to operators for services in Pakistan. This happened in 3 auctions by the Next Generation Mobile Services.

NGMS Auction 2014

PTA Auctioned spectrum for 3G and 4G services in 2014. One 4G licenses and three 3G licenses were finally auctioned on 23 April 2014.[4][5] The 4G license was bagged by Zong (as well as 10 MHz 3G license), while the 3G licenses were auctioned to Telenor (5 MHz), Mobilink (10 MHz) and Ufone (5 MHz). While Warid Pakistan was the only operator in Pakistan not to bid on the auction; Later on, Warid started LTE services using a previously acquired technology neutral license. The auction raised a total of $1.22 billion including 10% advance tax for the government of Pakistan.[6]

NGMS Auction 2016

Another auction was held in June 20for a 10 MHz block in the 850 MHz (Band 5) frequency, the base price was set at USD 395 million.[7] Telenor Pakistan was the only bidder in the auction and won the license for 850 MHz which it now uses for 3G (HSPA+) and LTE.[8]

NGMS Auction 2017

PTA plans to hold another auction on the 16th of May 2017 to auction a 10 MHz block in the 1800 MHz (Band 3) frequency, which was un-sold in the 2014 NGMS auction.[9]

The base price will be set at USD 295 million.[10]

It was first mentioned that Ufone could've been the only operator to participate in the 2017 NGMS auction,[11] however as of April 24, 2017, PTA officials had revealed that all telecom operators have shown great interest in the available spectrum and the auction has been delayed to 24 May 2017 on the request of all telecom operators.[12]

Contrary to earlier rumours and statements, the only operator to bid for the 1800 MHz 4G spectrum in the 2017 auction would be Jazz, the other operators, Telenor, Zong and Ufone did not submit any applications and a statement from PTA mentioned that Jazz was the only operator to submit the application before the deadline which was the 17th of May 2017.[13][14]

On the 18th of May 2017, Jazz became the winner of the 4G spectrum auction. It will be officially awarded the spectrum after the fee is paid.[15][16]

5G

PTA plans to auction 5G spectrum in 2023.[17]

Blocked Content

PUBG Controversy

In July 2020, PTA banned the online game PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds[18] Many social media activists like Waqar Zaka uploaded videos on YouTube urging Pakistanis to speak up against this ban.[19] Millions of Social media users of Pakistan have flooded sites like Facebook, Twitter and have shown overwhelming support for PUBG (PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds).[20] In response, PTA lifted ban on the popular online game.[21]

TikTok

In October 2020, PTA blocked TikTok for failing to filter out “immoral and indecent” content.[22] Soon after, TikTok made an agreement to moderate the content available in Pakistan and the ban was lifted.[23]

In March 2021, PTA said that a court ordered to block TikTok due to complaints from "indecent" content.[24]

Recent Achievements

1) Auction and subsequent spectacular growth in Mobile Broadband. Broadband density in the country jumped from under 2% to over 15% in less than 2 years.[citation needed]

2) Verification of all the SIMs in the country resulting in a unique identity for every SIM.[citation needed]

References

  1. ↑ Administrator. "History". http://www.pta.gov.pk/index.php?Itemid=320. 
  2. ↑ "Functions". http://www.pta.gov.pk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=451&Itemid=460. 
  3. ↑ Yousafzai, Amin (January 17, 2019). "Amir Azeem Bajwa Appointed as the New Chairman PTA". ProPakistani. https://propakistani.pk/2019/01/17/amir-azeem-bajwa-appointed-as-the-new-chairman-pta/. 
  4. ↑ [1]
  5. ↑ AFP (17 January 2014). "Pakistan plans 3G licence auction by March". http://www.dawn.com/news/1080928/pakistan-plans-3g-licence-auction-by-march. 
  6. ↑ [2]
  7. ↑ "PTA Releases Information Memorandum for 850MHZ Spectrum Auction". 2016-04-29. https://propakistani.pk/2016/04/29/pta-releases-information-memorandum-for-850mhz-spectrum-auction/. 
  8. ↑ "Telenor wins 850MHZ spectrum licence - The Express Tribune" (in en-US). The Express Tribune. 2016-06-02. https://tribune.com.pk/story/1114816/next-generation-mobile-services-telenor-wins-850mhz-spectrum-licence/. 
  9. ↑ "PTA to Hold 4G Auction on May 16th, IM Released". 2017-03-31. https://propakistani.pk/2017/03/31/pta-hold-4g-auction-may-16th-im-released/. 
  10. ↑ "Official: Pakistan to Auction 4G Spectrum for $295 Million". 2017-03-28. https://propakistani.pk/2017/03/28/official-pakistan-auction-4g-spectrum-295-million/. 
  11. ↑ "Ufone Could Be the Only Operator to Participate in 4G Spectrum Auction". 2017-04-04. https://propakistani.pk/2017/04/04/ufone-operator-participate-4g-spectrum-auction/. "Although Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has made the upcoming auction for Next Generation Mobile Services (NGMS) spectrum (3G/4G) more lucrative for new entrants, it remains pessimistic about the participation of any new player." 
  12. ↑ "PTA Delays 4G Spectrum Auction". 2017-04-24. https://propakistani.pk/2017/04/24/pta-delays-4g-spectrum-auction/. 
  13. ↑ "Breaking: Jazz Becomes Only Operator to Bid for 4G Spectrum". 2017-05-17. https://propakistani.pk/2017/05/17/breaking-jazz-becomes-operator-bid-4g-spectrum/. 
  14. ↑ Ahmadani, Ahmad. "Jazz emerges as sole operator to bid for 4G spectrum | Profit by Pakistan Today". https://profit.pakistantoday.com.pk/2017/05/17/jazz-emerges-as-sole-operator-to-bid-for-4g-spectrum/. 
  15. ↑ "PTA Notifies Jazz as the Winner of 4G Spectrum Auction". 2017-05-19. https://propakistani.pk/2017/05/19/pta-notifies-jazz-winner-4g-spectrum-auction/. 
  16. ↑ "Jazz became the winner of 4G spectrum: Dunya Ko Bataa Do | NetMag Pakistan" (in en-US). NetMag Pakistan. 2017-05-19. http://netmag.pk/jazz-became-winner-4g-spectrum-duniya-ko-bta/. 
  17. ↑ "Pakistan to get 5G by 2022-23" (in en). 2021-01-23. http://tribune.com.pk/story/2281115/pakistan-to-get-5g-by-2022-23. 
  18. ↑ "Media Center | PTA". https://www.pta.gov.pk/en/media-center/single-media/pta-temporarily-suspends-pubg-game-010720. 
  19. ↑ "I am filing Court case for lifting ban on PUBG - YouTube". https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wO4RVrZRu1Y&feature=youtu.be. 
  20. ↑ "Pakistani PUBG Players are Tweeting to PM Imran Khan to Unban the Popular Game". https://www.news18.com/news/buzz/pakistani-pubg-players-are-tweeting-to-pm-imran-khan-to-unban-popular-game-2737503.html. 
  21. ↑ Jahangir, Ramsha (2020-07-28). "Ban on PUBG to remain in interest of public order: PTA" (in en). https://www.dawn.com/news/1571533. 
  22. ↑ Agencies (9 October 2020). "PTA blocks TikTok for ‘immoral and indecent’ content" (in en-US). https://profit.pakistantoday.com.pk/2020/10/09/pta-blocks-tiktok-for-immoral-and-indecent-content/. 
  23. ↑ Ray, Siladitya (19 October 2020). "Pakistan Reverses Ban On TikTok After Platform Agrees To Follow ‘Societal Norms’" (in en-US). https://www.forbes.com/sites/siladityaray/2020/10/19/pakistan-reverses-ban-on-tiktok-after-platform-agrees-to-follow-societal-norms/. 
  24. ↑ Ahmad, Asif Shahzad, Jibran (2021-03-11). "Pakistan to block social media app TikTok over 'indecency' complaint" (in en). Reuters. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-pakistan-socialmedia-tiktok-idUSKBN2B329C. 

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