Pakistan Telecommunication Authority is considering to reduce APC (Access Promotion Contribution) and ASR (Approved Settlement Rates), due to the fact that most recent increment in APC and ASR (in February 2009) caused decent increase in amount of grey traffic, told us high level official from an LDI company.
He confirmed that PTA is interested in lowering the APC and ASR rates in order to facilitate LDI companies, and the overseas Pakistanis to get lower call rates while calling to Pakistan.
Reportedly, it is proposed that APC will be lowered to 0.055 $ while ASR will be lowered to 12.5 % to 10.5 $ per minute.
LDI operators are apparently happy with the situation, however, PTCL has shown its reservation for lowering APC and ASR.
Decision on this is expected anytime with-in next two weeks.
Yes, we overseas Pakistanis desperately need it. Our Government tries to be the champion of Telecom in South Asia but on other hand, It has increased incoming calls to Pakistan by over 400% in just 1 year. After every few months we gets revised rates for calling Pakistan Numbers. On other hand, 1 year back call to India and Bangladesh was expensive than Pakistan but now, they are 3 time cheaper than Pakistan.. Not because they decreased rates. Pakistan increased rates a lot.
Our Government not leaves a single moment to snatch money from Pakistani, regardless of where they are living and how they are earning.
Off course, Pakistanis reduced calling their home land and opting for other ways like IP phones, WiFi calls etc.