Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has directed PTCL to review and rationalise its international bandwidth rates to promote the broadband business in Pakistan and making the tariffs compatible with international markets.
While directing the company to submit a proposal for all categories of international bandwidth rates, the authority noted that substantial reduction has been witnessed in the international markets for internet protocol (IP) and international private leased circuit (IPLC) bandwidth rates and tariffs in Pakistan need to be revised accordingly. Review of prices is also necessary to promote telecom and data services, it added.
The authority has also decided that it would regulate the international bandwidth rates of PTCL under the Pakistan Telecommunication (Re-organisation) Act (1996). This decision will not only allow bandwidth tariffs to be remained in line with countries but also help in proliferating the IT and telecom services including international voice telephony internet, call centre and broadband.
The authority has noted that PTCL was offering high IP and IPLC tariffs and there was distortion for different users of international bandwidth. It may be added that PTA has taken these steps in accordance with the government policies for the promotion of telecom sector.