Pakistan Telecommunication Authority – in a historic decision today – suspended PTCL’s WLL licenses in five regions for using extra radio frequency spectrum than it was allocated.
In a directive, produced below, PTA said that PTCL’s WLL license for Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Lahore, Karachi and Multan is suspended for not complying with authority’s earlier directive in which it had asked the operator to free up the additional spectrum that it was illegally using.
PTCL offers EVO / Nitro wireless broadband services and Vfone on top of its WLL license.
If implemented, all EVO, Nitro and Vfone services will go offline in these five regions.
Just in case if you don’t know, Pakistan is divided into 14 telecom regions, out of which these five regions comprise of over 70 percent of telecom population of the country.
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Update:
PTA — just after few hours of license suspension – has restored suspended license after PTCL paid the fine of Rs. 82.496 million, moments ago.
A high level PTA official confirmed ProPakistani that PTCL has paid the fine and suspension of its WLL license is subsequently reverted.
PTA said that it has also asked FAB to keep a check on spectrum usage to make sure that PTCL has also freed up the extra radio frequency spectrum that it was illegally using.
PTA official, further explaining the development, said that the fine of Rs. 82.496 million was imposed for the spectrum loss till 2011, and the fine money may get revised as matter was resolved today (in 2014).
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PTA’s Directive also noted to all LL, LDI and mobile phone operators to terminate telecommunication facilities extended to PTCL in these five regions.
It maybe recalled that ISPAK had approached PTA in 2011 for alleged extra usage of spectrum by PTCL for its wireless broadband services.
PTA, after investigations and field monitoring reports of FAB, concluded in its Determination dated 16.09.2011 that PTCL has been using extra wireless spectrum illegally for its EVO services and hence a penalty of Rs. 82.496 million was imposed on PTCL with directions to stop using extra spectrum.
PTCL challenged that Determination in Islamabad High Court (IHC) maintaining that PTA’s decision is unjust. However, IHC – later on — dismissed PTCL’s appeal against PTA’s Determination in its order dated 03.12.2013.
PTCL has now approached Supreme Court challenging the PTA’s directive. However, before any decision in the Supreme Court, PTA today suspended its WLL licenses.
Below is PTA’s today directive on suspension of PTCL’s WLL licenses:
best time to sue PTCL
*Etisalat
PTCL is as essential as internet in Pakistan, if PTCL has not made the revolution in the internet market, we could never make the development like we have made. We should appreciate and support it.
So, Mr alleged research expert, why did PTCL’s management prevent Pakistan from getting 3G for FIVE WHOLE YEARS???? 2008-2013. Was it to HELP Pakistan or HELP PTCL?
1- Where is the proof of it that PTCL prevented 3G and not Govt.?
2- How can 3G make people ‘developed’ when there is no food to eat, even if 3G has been introduced here 5 years ago?
Nabeel, ironically you are defending PTCL for arguing that 3G wouldn’t have done any better in absence of food, while complementing PTCL for making internet more accessible.
For your reference, 3G didn’t come in Pakistan — at least till March 2013 — due to Etisalat, based on its terms for buying PTCL.
1. have you NOT PAID ATTENTION to this blog? Many times over past years it has been reported that Etisalaat had an agreement with the government of Pakistan to not allow more entrants. You can confirm this with local news media who also reported about that. Same was the issue with PTCL preventing other LDI providers.
2. If 3G was not a good idea, WHY DID PTCL LAUNCH EVO??? EVO is 3G data. Clearly if there is a market for EVO, then there is a market for 3G. And PTCL CORNERED THAT MARKET and prevented other companies from giving 3G connections.
Can’t explain the above facts with a valid interpretation? Then I suggest you learn something before you leave comments.
PTCL is just a telecom company privatized from last more than 7 years. it not any authority for 3G to launch or block. PTA is the only authority which also controls ptcl and other telecom operators. If 3G could not reach pakistan yet, the whole fault is of PTA.
Once again: Etisalaat’s deal with the government was to DENY other entries to the telecom market. This is why Zong did NOT have an LDI licence even though they had been in operation for years and years: Etisalaat’s terms.
And all for $800 million we have been waiting for from Etisalaat, we have been bending backwards to accomodate their requests. Whereas in fact if we had 3G earlier and if we had gone against their wishes we would have made more money sooner in foreign investment and local generated revenue.
IN SUMMARY: PTCL/Etisalaat SABOTAGED efforts to bring faster mobile internet to consumers PLUS they launched their own 3G data service to fill the vacuum. And now ignorant “researchers” like you think PTCL did wonders for our economy. Waa waa!
Head in the Sand!!!
yes but infact……….best time to Screw…………..lol ;)
That’s why a wired connection is recommended :D
Eagerly Waiting for implementation!
Oh tmhre khair… Mtlb evo bnd ab?? :-o
PTA is trying to damage . revenue as all other PMLN are doing . awam ko sassta kuch na do. lanat hai PTA par.
LOL ho gaya yeh to :-D
Pehly suspended phr 2 min mai dubara restored :-P
YEH CHEEZ!
Its not gonna work .
Ye Kia mazaak hai, Suspend karny k foran bad Restored, May khush ta k Peshawar may Speed zyada ayegi ab LoL.
bhai jan ye ik tylor hy agy eysa ho sakta hy q k 3g servies arahi hy usy bhi to chalana hy samjhe janab…
PTA rocks, Dr. Ismail Shah is best
Apparently it seems that Nawaz Gang, as they are commonly now known, have been failing to strike a deal so far with Etisalat Sheikhs so the legal actions being taken. Let’s wait and see!
Keep in mind: PPP (Zardari) closer to UAE, PML-N (Nawaz) closer to Saudi Arabia.
U don’t know what you’re saying and U have no proof. Just because BB lived in UAE during exile you think they are closer to her. This is, and always was a fallacy, the UAE is much closer to Nawaz Sharif just as they were to Musharraf. NS and SS lives in UAE for several years in early adulthood when they were working in steel trading and were very close to Shaikh Zayed of Abu Dhabi and Shaikh Rashid of Dubai.
Please check your facts before making such grossly wrong statements.
Doesn’t change the fact that relationship with Saudi Arabia deteriorated during Zardari and grew with UAE. For one thing, we angered the Saudis and they stopped giving us cheaper oil.
And now things are getting better with the Saudis.
Good work PTA, this was the best way to get the fine from PTCL. It was delaying it from 2011 and now after court’s decision they were still stubborn and were challenging it in another court. PTA should have today added some extra amount for restoring the licenses.
Rule of law should be on top and such violating organizations must be dealt with, same way.
What will happen to thousands of internet connections powered by evo services? Why customers have to suffer? If PTA has the balls to suspend a license, it should also order PTCL to do some make-shift arrangements for the subscribers!.
Yesterday PTCL lost its case even at Supreme Court. They made smart move to settle this with PTA otherwise it could have been crisis situation.
Also, PTCL laid off more than 150 senior officer in last week. Why Pro Pakistan didn’t publish any article on this?
They are quite because of PTCL advertisement you can witness above on this page.
ProPakistani is actually Pro-PTCL. This Website isn’t any different to other Media. All are biased and just report issues from where they don’t get any money from.
i was also goes down…
ptcl ka 2mb par joo limit hai woh kasay check karain
how to see ptcl usage 2mb