Worldcall Telecom Limited has welcomed the determination shown by Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) on Reference Interconnect Offer (RIO), which defines the operating and financial parameters for interconnect between PTCL and new licensees under telecom deregulation. A spokesman said here on Thursday that the process entailed extensive consultation between the PTA, Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) and the new licensees.
Pakistan Telecommunication Authority mediation and exceptional handling of the whole process ensured rational, non-controversial and transparent hearings of arguments from each stakeholder. Impartiality of the PTA and its effectiveness in avoiding any deadlock between the parties was highly appreciated by all concerned.
According to him, PTCL, being a monopolistic incumbent, enjoyed a stranglehold on the dynamics of the local telecom sector. Its role in addressing the concerns of new licensees in a rational manner and its direct approach in addressing the issues was appreciated by the private sector operators. New operators' confidence in the regulator's ability to handle and resolve complex contentious issues, arising the post deregulation environment was consolidated.
He said that the main focus of the consultation process was the financial regime included in the proposed RIO from PTCL. New licensees were unanimous in their representation to the PTA about its commercially fatal impact on competitiveness of any service structuring under the proposed financial structure. It would have resulted in negation of the basic principle objectives of the whole deregulation process-Telecom infrastructure growth and quality service at competitive prices for the end consumers.
Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited management actively participated in the whole process and professionally defended its position on each and every highlighted issue, he added.
Commenting on this issue, Babar Ali Syed, Chief Operating Officer, Worldcall Telecom Limited fully supported the PTA vision in this regard. He said, "The new regime, as determined by the PTA, will have far reaching impact on the telecom service organisation in Pakistan.
On one hand it ensures that competitive services from new operators are available to end-users and at the same time protects the development oriented structuring of the basic framework. Depth of network is still relevant but financial constraints on operators for intensive deployments have been removed. Additionally, it protects PTCL by clearly defining operating principles in the long term and letting them strategize and prepare for deregulated competitive environment."-PR