Despite series of procedures adopted by PTA to address the situation, cellular companies failed to comply with them and kept on focusing on sales instead of subscribers’ verification.
An Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) was issued on 28th June 2005 where mobile companies were required to get their data verified through NADRA database and issue new connection after due verification. In May 2007, a directive was issued by PTA having split the verification in two parts i.e. “New Connection Sale” and “Cleaning of Old Data” with clear dead lines for mobile operators to complete the task. As a result significant amount of old data was cleaned through NADRA database and considerable improvement observed in new connections sales through the franchisees only.
In January 2008, Ministry of IT & Telecom issued a Policy Directive under section 8(2)(c) of the Pakistan Telecommunication (Re-organization) Act 1996, which replicates the procedure already in place for verification of mobile subscribers’ information. In light of the policy directive, a revised Standing Operating Procedure (SOP) was issued inline with the existing policy for immediate implementation by the Cellular Mobile Operators.
To ensure the implementation of SOP, a number of measures were initiated which include meetings with law enforcement officers, business communities and sales representatives and conduct of country wide surveys/inspections through PTA Zonal Offices. About 106 raids were conducted, 853 Franchises were inspected, 4108 retailers were inspected. In the process around 1425 SIMs were confiscated and 102 people were arrested who were involved in illegal business.
Deployment of Online Verification System
The cellular operators are (were) verifying their data through NADRA in batches, which at time becomes a lengthy and time consuming process. For convenient, easy and effective verification different options were explored and finally SMS based verification system was agreed by PTA, Mobile operators and NADRA. The systems was deployed with Mobile operators at selected outlets. Its expansion to all customer service centers, franchisees and registered retailers is still in process. Around 15% sale is being made through this system.
Measures undertaken by PTA across the country resulted in following actions:-
New System of Activation of SIMs after Verification
To ensure that the mobile connections are being sold to genuine customer with valid documentary proof, PTA in collaboration with the stake holders was planning to introduce “Inactive SIMs” in the market. The activation of the SIMs will take place after verification of subscriber’s antecedents from NADRA.
The sale outlets that are the franchisees, retailers and mobile company customer service centers will sell inactive SIMs. After the sale of inactive SIM has been made the customer will call at call center of mobile company at 789 from that SIM .It would be a free call. Call center representative will ask few questions to verify customer particulars. If the answers are correct the SIM will then be activated. Parameters of the proposed system are:-
The system will be functional in the country from February 1 2009, and will have following major advantages:-
Procedure for Getting/ Purchasing a New SIM after 1st February 2009