ISLAMABAD: The Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) has recommended that the Ministry of Information Technology (MoIT) and the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) withdraw their proposal for the establishment of an international clearing house (ICH) exchange for international incoming calls for long distance international, fixed-line local loops, wireless local loops and mobile operators. The gateway ICH is supposed to converge all international calls to a single technical gateway led by the Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL), against the current practice of being handled by 14 long distance international operators. The CCP has advised the Ministry of Information Technology and the PTA that any such arrangement will not be tenable in accordance with the Competition Act, 2010.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 29th, 2012.
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I do not agree with you all the Pakistan economy is run on oversea Pakistani. What are u saying European countries have one of the lowest Rate in the world. India has the lowest rate. This is completely wrong and will have bad effect on Pakistan economy.
I fully agree with comments of Max that rates should increase as we are paying much amount to Gulf and European Countries. Even if we call from Gulf and Europe to Pakistan we have to pay enough amount. Further, if rates increased it will certainly support Pakistan Economy as Government will get enough Foreign Exchange.
This is a much needed project, and CCP is out of its bounds here. We pay higher rates to Gulf contries and Europe so let them pay higher rates to us. If higher rates mean higher revenue for Pakistan and ICH allows curtailment of grey traffic which currently is over 50% of the LDI market, then the Government, like anywhere in world, needs to implement means ICH asap to control illegal traffic and increase renvenue of companies who have invested millions of US$ in LDI licences and technology through the proper manner. Its ok of if we go begging to the world but when we try to generate our own revenue the little minds start crying foul.
This is cartelization and will result in higher calling rates for everyone. If you read between lines it is clear that the big operators part of this are owing huge money to PTA and Pakistan peoples because they have not paid Access Promotion Contribution fees and this is one way for them to raise prices to pay it off.
Very unfair to people of Pakistan and other telecom companies operating in Pakistan. Supreme Court should take note. After stealing billions of money owed to Exchequer by not paying APC money, these operators are now trying to raise prices for LDI calls.