The Ministry of Information Technology has given policy guidelines to the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) to tackle the problem of cellular phone jamming devices being used by the different entities.
The ministry has prepared policy guidelines to resolve the longstanding industry issue concerning the use of cellular phone jamming devices by different entities, especially financial institutions in the business districts of metropolitan areas, said a statement on Saturday.
The guidelines were issued following consumers that they complaints are unable to avail cellular services across substantial areas due to spill over of jamming effect of such devices deployed by multiple organisations in business districts.
The cellular mobile industry has also been demanding for long that they have been licensed country-wide right to use of spectrum, but the deployment of such equipment is causing interference and blockage to the service.
The guidelines prescribe review of the current process for authorisation of jammers and withdrawal of permissions accorded to commercial entities after due notice of three months. A separate process based on authorisations in the context of national security will be adopted.
Such authorisations will be accorded by an inter-ministerial committee constituted especially for the purpose. This committee will comprise representatives of Ministries of Interior, Defence, Information Technology and National Security Agencies, PTA and technical experts.
To address all other situations where use of cellular phones is essentially a matter of "cellular phone use etiquette" eg mosques, churches, cinema halls and other such places, the government and PTA with the co-operation of cellular operators will take up a social responsibility and mass awareness campaign to educate the masses about prudent use of their cellular phones. PTA will devise effective programme for such a campaign.
The revision of the policy with regard to jammers will ensure that the consumer's interest with regard to uninterrupted availability of telecom services will be protected, the statement added.
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