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  • Aug 18th, 2017
  • Comments Off on Concern voiced over proposed amendment to Telecom Act
The telecom industry has expressed concern over the proposed amendment to Pakistan Telecom (Re-organisation) Act, 1996. It said there are some other reasons too due to which Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication (MoIT&T) doesn't support it.

Senior officials of MoIT&T said this while speaking at a meeting of subcommittee of the Senate Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation on Thursday. The meeting was chaired by Convener Senator Muhammad Daud Khan Achakzai.

A senior official of MoIT&T said that representatives of telecom industry informed the ministry that they have learnt through a news item that the government is considering an amendment in the act to grant Special Communications Organisation (SCO) a commercial access to telecom market in Pakistan. In this regard they expressed concern on the entry of the government-backed operator in the telecom market and requested the ministry to provide further details and clarity in this regard.

He said that the ministry in its reply informed the telecom industry that as per the past practices, MoIT&T and the rules of procedure of the telecom industry will be consulted before finalising any amendment in the telecom act. Millions of dollars investment from other operators will be at stake if the proposed amendment in the telecom act is approved, he said, adding that Pakistan has generated Rs 35 billion from auction of 4G spectrum license last year.

Member Legal MoIT&T Ameena Sohail said that the ministry disagreed to the amendment as it is against the stated policy of the government, international commitments and other commercial agreements in the realm.

The officials of SCO told the committee that the SCO is not interested to get 3G/4G Spectrum licenses as it required huge investment. "Basically the SCO needs LDI license and extension in its domain for earning revenue from China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), because Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has not yet issued license to it," he said, adding if LDI license has not been issued to SCO, it could not earn revenue from the CPEC.

However, the committee directed the SCO and MoIT&T to hold detailed consultations regarding proposed amendments and submit final report in this regard before the committee before the next meeting.



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