PTCL in a press statement said: “Keeping in view the manifold increase in cost of service provisioning by PTCL and similar pressures faced by our valued ISP and DNOP customers and in consultation with PTA, PTCL being a socially responsible organisation has withdrawn its decision for price rationalization and will serve the ISP and DNOP customers at the earlier rates.”

PTCL announced last week a 450-700 per cent increase in prices of its domestic leased line circuits. Internet Service Providers (ISPs) in Pakistan strongly opposed the move and Internet users all across the country also expressed their concern over increased bandwidth charges. ISPs Association of Pakistan (ISPAK) termed the price increase unlawful, anti-competitive and appealed to Pakistan Telecom Authority (PTA) for immediate action against PTCL. As the price increase move is reversed now, ISPAK has also expressed its satisfaction on the reversal.

Reportedly, Pakistan’s telecom regulating body - Pakistan Telecom Authority (PTA) held closed door consultations with PTCL and asked the largest telecom operator to withdraw the unilateral price hike decision.

Spokesman of ISPAK, Wahaj us Siraj, while talking to a national newspaper said: “We appreciate the decision of PTCL management to withdraw the price increase which could have led to doubling the prices of internet for the customers”.

No doubt, Pakistan remained one of the fastest growing telecom markets in the world where in the last year mobile industry invested close to $3 billion of total Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) coming into the country. But the Quality of Service (QoS) monitoring and enforcement needs a lot to be done.

Pakistan’s Telecom Authority (PTA) had to face severe criticism in recent past over unidentified SIM cards which are avilable throughout the country. As these SIMS can be used for any kind of illegal activity, analysts believe it is the fault of PTA as it could have imparted a strict policy since it issued cellular licenses.

1. Broadband Pakistan
2. IPTV service (which is not yet launched fully)

Maybe it is because I live in Islamabad, but for some reason PTCL is acting really fast. Some say that is because of heated competition in the market. Gone are the days when we had to get a ’safarish’ (reference) of a VIP to get even a phone line installed in our homes. PTCL now gives many services on just a phone call after Etisalat acquired it and the market became full of telcos.

Imagine! I was just browsing PTCL’s website and came across this new broadband service by them, I clicked on signup form and just filled it up to see what happens next. Here we go, I got a message that I will be called for this and I thought “Yeah rite! ;)”. To my surprise, I got a call next day at around 10:00am, asking me “Sir, should we come to install DSL at your home?”. I was like what? Are you really from PTCL? I told them I’m already using another ISP for DSL, they helped me out in getting myself unscubscribed from the other ISP and I was using PTCL’s broadband the same evening.

The latest surprise came to me when I got a call froma lady saying “Sir, I’m calling from PTCL. We’re offering IPTV for free to our valued DSL customers. IPTV is this.. that.. blah blah!” I was like “Hey! I’m interested, now plz stop! and tell me what to do next?”. She said “Our engineers will come to your place and give you free equipment and you will be able to use our IPTV service FREE for 2 months”. And here they were, IPTV is now here in my room and its working excellent.

Etisalat when acquired PTCL was a monopoly operator at home (UAE), whereas PTCL had to compete with 12 other LDI (Local Distance & International) operators in Pakistan. Similarly, China Mobile’s first international acquisition was Paktel. China Mobile also has no experience of working in a competitive environment. Now Omantel, which was recently privatized, has to compete with around 14 telecom operators in the country (if we include PTCL as well).

The question is whether these three monopoly-loving companies will be able to survive (or succeed in the next stage) in Pakistan’s de-regularized telecom industry?

Why do they call it a “Software Export” board? Does it not deal with companies that do not export software? PSEB also looks after companies that deal with ICT and other allied domains. In my opinion, PSEB should be renamed. Some suggestions are PITB (Pakistan IT Board), PICTB (Pakistan ICT Board), PICTA (Pakistan ICT Authority), NITB (National IT Board), NICTB etc. I remember, I once talked to a PSEB official around a year back and he revealed to me that PSEB is already considering changing of its name.

It is encouraging to see that PSEB has held various events during last year. Software Accelerator program, trainings, international image building tours, media interactions, website uplift and monthly newsletters etc. are all steps in the right direction by PSEB.

Like PASHA (Pakistan Software Houses Association), PSEB should have started IT industry awards long ago. Similarly, PSEB should hold international level exhibitions and events in Pakistan. There are lot of other steps that PSEB should take. I will continue on them in my next post.