The telecom sector in Pakistan is witnessing an unprecedented growth with an addition of 0.5 million new cell phone users every month, and in next three to four years, the number of cell phone users is expected to be 35 million. Chairman Pakistan Telecom Authority (PTA) Shahzada Alam Malik expressed these views while he was addressing the LCCI members here on Thursday. LCCI President Mian Misbahur Rehman, Vice President Sheikh Muhammad Arshad also spoke on the occasion.
He said that two more companies ie Telenor and Warid would become operational soon. 'Telenor' is going to launch its services on March 15 while Warid would become operational next month.
The PTA Chairman maintained that the telecom sector growth is so fast that the Authority is going to introduce eight-digit numbers, as the present seven digits are insufficient to cater to the rising needs in this sector.
He, however, said the tele-density was less than one percent in rural areas of the country. In a bid to check the increasing incidents of cell phone theft and snatching, the PTA had asked the cell phone companies to devise a system that could render the cell phone unusable after a theft case is reported, he pointed out.
He said that every mobile set has a specific number and that number could be used to make that set unusable after stealing.
He disclosed that number of cell users might touch the mark of 15 million by the end of this year.
Replying to various queries, he admitted that there were problems with the services of PTCL or the cellular companies. He said that the PTA was already conducting a survey and on its completion, necessary details would be made public apart from taking action against those who did not fulfil the conditions of the agreement.
Regarding tariff reduction, he said that in cellular area, after more competition and introduction of new companies, tariff would automatically come down. He revealed that the PTA would also be negotiating with the companies to bring down the CPP rates.
He also expressed the hope that after privatisation, PTCL would also become more customer-friendly and business-oriented.
Earlier, in his address, the LCCI President Mian Misbah-ur-Rehman said that the regulatory role of Pakistan Telecommunication Authority had been magnified. He was of the view that growth of this sector could be judged from the fact that mobile phone sector had shown 173 percent growth in 2003-04.
The PTA generated over Rs 30 billion from initial license fee from mobile, fixed and WLL license auction. The country received $207 million in shape of foreign direct investment.
Card payphone sector also showed tremendous growth. This has gone up from 10,400 operators in 2000-2001 to 184,669 in 2003-2004 creating approximately 370,000 employment opportunities all over the country, he added.
He said that there was a general complaint by cell phone users in the shape of severe congestion, call connection errors, frequent call drops, excessive and unjustified billing due to false messaging.
The PTA should give special direction to all cell phone operators to take immediate action to remove the complaints of poor and substandard service, he added.
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