IPs Carrying Illegal Voice Traffic will be Blocked Automatically: PTA

Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) is now capable of automated blocking of Internet Protocol Addresses (IPs), that carry illegal voice traffic that is termination and/or origination of voice packets in a bid to check grey traffic flowing into the country, as reported in ‘The News’ PTA says that the facility will be operational within the next few days.

Paper says that PTA Chairman Dr Muhammad Yaseen announced this during a meeting with the CEOs of major Internet Service Providers (ISPs) of the country.

Chairman requested all the Internet Service Providers to declare their IP addresses along-with the antecedents of their customers so that illegal telecom traffic could be monitored. It was emphasized that the operators should oversee their customers to make sure they are not involved in grey traffic termination. He sought the operators’ cooperation to stem the menace of grey telephony.

It merits mentioning here that PTA announced publicly that all (registered) call centers should provide their IP addresses to PSEB to make sure that their voice traffic is not blocked.

I am not sure if this system is capable of detecting voice packets sent by Yahoo, Skype, netmeeting etc… Hope these programmes would be allowed for home users.

Since the inception of technical facility in May 2008 at the PTA, the IP addresses found to be involved in illegal activities were being blocked manually and in the process, over 14 million minutes (worth around Rs100 million) have been saved on monthly basis. Now these would be automatically blocked if any IP, not authorized to carry voice, is found doing so. Under the current policy, only LDIs and international call centers are authorized to carry voice across national boundaries.

Tech and telecom reporter for over 15 years


  • PTA should allow all Internet Services including VoIP, Video etc. Blocking these latest technologies is not beneficial.

    They should study why their is no grey traffic issue in the US, Canada, UK etc.? Because once everything is allowed, their is no charm in the illegal activity.

  • hi this not legal for PTA to control all these cheap acess for the net for voice calling , if he is intrested they should make the calling rate so low that pplz them self will call by mobile / fixed line . why this is so high as the calling rate /minute for pakistan is too much high than other Regional countries .

  • PTA is doing eye wash many compnaies are still playing with gray traffic. PTA is incompetent to resolve this issue

  • Dear All,

    I really fail to understand that How PTA call Grey not legal, just have an idea that we are paying 39.9% of tax per call to mobile company, like this includes from loading of balance to termination of call. Grey operators are actually bringing money in Pakistan, which is good for the economy secondly they buy millions of balance every day to run business, like if some one has 1000 ports equipment, and he load RS. 1000/- every day in each sim then just imagine how much he is paying the mobile company, hence in other words growing an institution of Pakistan and creating jobs, and above everything he is paying around 60 to 70 lac just as tax to Gov of Pakistan then beside this he is paying tax on electricity, in short on each and everything he is using, so dear friends, he is doing business by paying 100% tax then how can PTA say illegal , PTA just want their pockets to be filled, that it, dont you know how much FIA makes on this, FIA is running their own grey setups :)


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