PTA: Regions Leading Regulator

In today's world of telecommunication evolution, regulators tend to have a fairly consistent and imperative role to ensure that telecoms customers receive the best possible service in terms of quality, choice and value for money. They have to keep a consistent watch on the market while enabling an environment for technological enhancements as well as fair competition.
Pakistan Telecommunication Authority since its inception has worked for the betterment of the people at large and has achieved some historical milestones in this regard. PTA had served the IT and Telecom sector of Pakistan for its growth and development while regulating and promoting new ICTs and related services, introducing competitive operators on fair grounds and promoting consumer interests.
Over the last three years, the regulator is working under the leadership of Dr Mohammed Yaseen towards enabling a new ICT regulatory environment in the country, Dr Mohammed Yaseen is a PhD from University of Essex, England with specialisation in Telecommunication Systems. With a successful professional career of almost 17 years, he has worked in about 30 countries at various high level positions.
PTA under the leader of Dr Mohammed Yaseen and in collaboration with industry players has successfully completed a number of other projects such as calculating estimated depletion timeline for IPv6, preparation of ICT security guidelines for Telecommunication, Government and End-users, Prospects of 'Public Key infrastructure' and 'Public Data warehouses', launching of first ever e-commerce gateway in Pakistan, study on 'Telecommunication for Disables', 'DNS Security Extensions' and 'Broadband user survey'. All of these initiatives affirm the strong commitment from the regulator as it is expected the future of telecommunication in the country will prosperous further.
PTA has also engaged itself in development of ICT applications to facilitate telecommunication consumers of the country as well as various segments of the economy. In this regard, PTA successfully developed and distributed an 'SMS-based information application' for educational institutes followed by voice enabled application over SMS communication to support Agriculture sector. PTA also launched National Rabta Information Portal of Pakistan with an objective to create a single source facilitation web portal that allows users to access any and all information regarding Pakistan that is already available electronically. Recently an application to display the telecommunication services coverage footprint has been launched to facilitate the telecommunication consumers.
The visionary leadership of Chairman PTA has made the regulatory body as a model organisation within Asia Pacific Region. He has made collaboration with his counterpart in the Asia Pacific Region as well as around the world in the telecom regulatory body, specially his efforts for sharing views on new emerging technologies is amongst the significant achievements.
These achievements include organisational developments, international achievements and telecommunication industry developments which can be described in detail as follows:
ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENTS
-- Creation of Consumer Protection Directorate
Consumer Protection Directorate (DPD) has been formed within PTA to make sure that complaints against telecom operators are dealt with immediately in this regard CPD is working closely with PTCL and other operators to improve complaints scenario. Consumer Protection Regulation has been formulated to protect the rights of the consumers in better and effective manner. Moreover, to protect the interests of telecom consumers from the spam, unsolicited, fraudulent and obnoxious Communication, PTA has drafted regulations on the subject in order to ensure and protect the interests of telecom consumers through the compliance by telecom operators of preventive measures against the spam, unsolicited, fraudulent and obnoxious communication.
Re-structuring
In the light of extensive growth of telecom sector in Pakistan and arduous nature of workload PTA has been done re-structuring of its Divisions and Directorates for effective regulation of telecom sector and internal management of the organisation to dispose of work in benefited and effective manner.
Establishment of Strategy and Development Wing
The Strategy & Development (S&D) Division has been established at PTA for devising a clear strategy and policy towards various issues of the telecommunications industry.
This Division would work as a think tank for PTA. This Division is required to put forth the "Vision" and draw a strategy for fulfilment of the short term and long term forward looking visionary goals of the Authority in the interest of the consumers, stakeholders and the government.
INTERNATIONAL ACHIVEMENTS
Development of Multiple International Links
The Authority has been considering the Multiple International Links with neighbouring countries, China, Afghanistan, Iran, India and Central Asian States. Framework has also been developed, in this regard, working and co-ordination is being made with local Telecom Operators as well as International players and MOU between PTA and ATRA has also been sent to Cabinet for approval. In addition, Chairman being board member of USF is keen in establishing the link between Pakistan and Iran to be completed by USF fund.
TELECOMMUNICATION INDUSTRY
Telecom Sector is a major contributor to national exchequer, the estimated contribution during Jan-March 2009 is Rs 23.3 billion approximately which when compared to the same period of 2008 was estimated to be Rs 28 billion approximately. PTA has established 350 Tele centers (Rabta Ghars) as a Rural Telephony Project across rural areas of Pakistan as catalyst to change rural economy and living standards.
Broadband under his able leadership, PTA is giving a special emphasise on progress and development of broadband and its services in the country. PTA also formulated exclusive 'Broadband Stakeholders Group (BSG)' comprising experts from different industry segments. Primary objective of BSG was to seek necessary input from the industry in order to address factors behind the slow adoption of Broadband. The group has completed its final recommendations report which has been shared with the policy maker for necessary review.
Mobile Banking
Mobile Banking is another area of prime focus for PTA. The mobile phone sector in Pakistan has witnessed tremendous growth in the recent past and is still growing at an astounding pace. The total number of mobile subscribers has crossed 100 Million marks; owing to this fast acceptance of mobile technologies, individuals and organizations are now able to work at unconventional places. PTA is keen to encash this massive opportunity through possible introduction of mobile banking services in Pakistan. Draft regulations prepared by PTA calling attention to follow a "Third Party Solution Provider" approach as an integrated model for facilitation of mobile banking transaction system in the country are in final phase of review with State Bank of Pakistan; the regulations also proposes a unified regulatory framework between PTA and State Bank of Pakistan.
New System of SIMs Activation:
To ensure that the mobile connections are being sold to genuine customer with valid documentary proof, PTA in collaboration with the stakeholders has introduced "Inactive SIMs" in the market. The activation of the SIMs will take place after the verification of subscriber's antecedents from NADRA. The sale outlets that are the franchisees, retailers and mobile company customer service centers will sell inactive SIMs. After the sale has been made the call center operator of mobile company will make a call to the customer and will ask few questions to verify his particulars. If the answers are correct the SIM will then be activated.
Verification of Antecedents by 668
Mobile sector of Pakistan has observed an astonishing growth since last five years. Subscribers have been purchasing mobile SIMs via mobile operators' service outlets, retailers and authorised franchises. There had been no restriction on number of SIMs to be registered under a specific CNIC as a result of which a subscriber has bought / registered more than one SIM. The situation has lead to a security concern situation where a SIM registered under one subscriber(s) is being used by another un-identified user. PTA has developed a SIM information system by using which mobile subscribers can find out the total number of SIM(s) registered against their respective CNIC number with each mobile operator of the country. The system has largely facilitated mobile subscribers to block those SIM(s) which presently are not under their usage. In this regard an exclusive short code "668" has been allocated to all mobile operators; subscribers use this short code to send sms incorporating their CNIC number to receive the required information. Moreover, the service is also available Via PTA's website www.pta.gov.pk use this short code to send sms incorporating their CNIC number to receive the required information. Moreover, the service is also available via PTA's website www.pta.gov.pk
Internet Peering Points
PTA has taken an important initiative to engage PTCL and Transworld Associates (Pvt) Ltd over the issue of domestic Internet traffic routing. At that time, the routing scenario was resulting in unnecessary delay for the local Internet traffic, burden on International Internet links and increase in average per bit delivery cost of ISPs. In continuation to its role as an industry facilitator PTA carried out mutual discussion with PTCL and TWA for establishing local Internet peering point(s). The arrangement is in operation since October 2009 and bringing cost efficiency in the head of international IP bandwidth by restricting local internet traffic within the country.
Transition of .pk Domain
Pakistan's ccTLD situation has taken a giant leap recently where PKNIC has successfully implemented the local mirroring of .pk operation inside Pakistan. This transition of .pk operations is considered as one of the biggest milestone in the local Internet history of Pakistan. This remarkable arrangement would not only improve the local content proliferation but subsequently encouraging enterprises to host their web content under .pk. The new infrastructure ensures smooth operations of an important Internet resource where we no longer have to depend on International Internet connectivity for access to .pk sub-domains. In fact Pakistanis will now enjoy a 24/7 local availability of .pk domain infrastructure; a truly long-awaited footstep turning into realisation.
Content Management
Recently PTA invited researchers, academia and software developers to submit their proposals on 'Killer Applications and Content Development', an encouraging response was received. Subsequently, PTA arranged an exclusive forum on 'Promoting ICT Sector of Pakistan' in February 2010 to present the shortlisted proposal. The forum was attended by all relevant stakeholders including the industry and academia as it played a pivotal role in bridging the gap between two important pillars of ICT content industry the country. Moreover, PTA also prepared a working paper to enhance the National ICT research fund capability to provide funding on Content Development and ICT Research Study. This working paper was approved by ICT R&D Fund Co Board members and now funding on content development and ICT research study is available to local content developers and researchers to strengthen the innovation capability of Pakistan.
Control of Illegal Gateway
PTA has acquired a Technical Solution for addressing the menace of grey traffic brought into the country through illegal means. It is a proven solution which is currently being used by various telecom operators across the globe. PTA as a regulator shall continue to track such unlawful activities to apprehend the individuals involved and to protect public money.