The study group constituted by Pakistan Telecom Authority (PTA) under its Director General Finance to prepare recommendations for rationalisation of mobile phone companies tariff has completed its work.
The draft of recommendations of the study group has been placed on website of the Authority for comments by general public and all stakeholders, said Zonal Director of PTA, Colonel Nayyar Hassan at a briefing here.
Explaining details of the study, he said that after completion of the de-regulation process and award of licences and spectrums to new and old operators, telecom work has taken new dimensions.
As a price war has already started, it has become imperative that interconnect and access charges must be rationalised in the light of the new scenario, he added.
He said that PTA has taken the initiative and after detailed analysis and study proposals have been formulated for comments from the general public and other stakeholders, including the PTCL, Ufone, Mobilink, Instaphone, Paktel etc.
The comments and suggestions will be incorporated to finalise the recommendations made by the PTA study group, he said.
PTA zonal director said that the process of finalisation of recommendations would be completed within a month's time or so and rationalised tariff structure would be in place by the end of November this year.
Moreover, the emerging competitive environment has resulted in formation of a mechanism that is beneficial for consumers in the shape of reduced installation, connection and call charges as well as line rent, he added.
"Our efforts have started producing positive results in the IT & telecom market," the zonal director claimed.
Narrating his point of view about the emerging IT market in Pakistan, Nayyar said that providing level playing field for all market players and conducive market environment for service providers is the main objective but to achieve this without compromising on the quality of service and keeping the tariff at reasonable level for the users is even more important.