PTA notifies new rules: Only 5 mobile devices can be imported for personal use

Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has notified "Type Approval Technical Standards Regulations," allowing import of only five mobile devices in a calendar year by a person for personal use.

The foreign missions including high commissions and embassies will file their Certificate of Compliance (COC) requests for import of telecommunication equipment through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; however, they will have to apply for type approval for terminal equipment after providing required documents/sample/fee to the PTA.

Furthermore, IMEI for device(s) will contain only GSMA issued Type Allocation Code (TAC) excluding placed in blacklist by the authority. Mobile devices that contain duplicated/cloned/stolen/counterfeit will not be allowed for issuance of the COC by the PTA. The PTA has the right to cancel/suspend the COC issued in case the product being imported/sold is found to be having manufacturing faults, hazardous to health/safety and not conforming to standards stated at the time of grant of the COC. According to the Type Approval Technical Standards Regulations, all type approval holders and persons importing PTA type approved terminal equipment/mobile devices for sale and market in Pakistan shall ensure that they will establish customer service/after sales mechanism for facilitation of their customers and also obtain the COC for parts imported for after sales provision through the PTA. For devices operating in the VHF frequency bands, type approval holder will ensure that the equipments is sold to the PTA license holders and devices are programmed within the allocated frequency band only as per license conditions. Furthermore, a monthly report for such device sale along with end user and the PTA license details will be provided to the PTA. For devices operating in the HF and the UHF frequencies band, type approval will be granted subject to provision of the PTA issued license and device will be programmed within the allocated frequencies band and output power as per license conditions.

For equipment for maritime functionality, authorization from a Pakistan Maritime Security Agencies (MSA) along with issued license from PTA is required.

All entities interested in the assembling of terminal equipment in Pakistan will have to fulfill the following requirements prior to the assembly of terminal equipment; (a) Type approval of terminal equipment intended for assembling in, Pakistan; (b) Request on company letter head containing following details; (i) company profile, SECP/firm registration, NTN, Form-29 and Form-A etc; (ii) address of location along with pictures where assembly line is proposed to be setup; (iii) details for terminal equipment including models planned to be assembled; (iv) certification/undertaking from manufacturer that; local mobile phone will be in line with best international practices/standards; and will conform to, the standards of Type Approval granted by PTA.

Provided that the applicant will intimate the PTA about setup of assembly for inspection, within 30 days of the initiation of the local assembly plant, the applicant will invite the PTA to inspect the assembly line premises.

At the time of the inspection, the authority shall verify the following; (a) quality and control testing at assembly line including device function test; (b) controlled drop test of device; (c) Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) setup/tools (eg, ESD coat, cap, wrist band etc.); (d) Product stress testing (e.g. temperature, mechanical and electrical, and durability etc); (e) Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, antenna and signal test; and (f) Evaluation and verification of IMEI writing.