Telecom sector contributed over Rs 218.8 billion to the national exchequer during 2020-21, Chairman PTA General (R) Amir Azim Bajwa

Telecom sector contributed over Rs 218.8 billion to the national exchequer during 2020-21, Chairman PTA General (R) Amir Azim Bajwa

By: Asghar Ali Mubarak

Islamaba;The country’s telecom sector has attracted Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) of $202.34 million during the Fiscal Year 2020-21, which showed investors’ confidence in the policies introduced by the incumbent government for promotion of this industry. Digital transformation is opening up the doors of opportunities to increase economic growth, reduce inequality and promote financial inclusion.

He stated that PTA has been making utmost efforts along with other stakeholders and the telecom industry to increase availability of quality digital services across the sectors during the pandemic. Briefing the media about performance of the telecom sector here, Chairman Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) General (R) Amir Azim Bajwa said “The telecom sector has contributed over Rs 218.8 billion to the national exchequer during the last financial year.” He said that tele density (landline telephone connections per 100 people in a specified geographic area) till July was recorded at 87.5 percent while the number of active cellular mobile subscribers reached 185 million till July, 2021.The Chairman PTA General (R) Amir Azim Bajwa said the number of broadband subscribers reached 104.43 million in July while the broadband penetration was recorded at 47.68 percent during the same period. Chairman PTA said that data usage reached to 6855 PB [Peta Byte] in 2020-21.

He stated that PTA received bid from PTML(Ufone), after scrutiny of submitted bid, PTA declares PTML as winner of the auction process.’’This will generate the revenue of USD 279 Million (excluding advance tax). Government will receive 50% upfront payment of PKR 23.44 Billion within 15 days; out of which 20% of the said amount i.e PKR 9.38 Billion has already been received on 9th September 2021. Remaining 50% will be paid in 5 equal annual installments’’ he added. He further said that total Spectrum won by Ufone is 9 MHz in 1800 MHz band which is 70.3% of the total offered spectrum in the said band during the current Auction. ‘’This addition will increase Ufone spectrum holdings from 6 MHz to 15 MHz in 1800 MHz band’’, he stated. He said that this will help Ufone to provide enhanced quality and increase coverage footprint for Voice and Data services.

Chairman PTA said that completed auction process with assistance of internationally reputed consultant Frontier Economics who was onboard since January 2021, and conducted thorough consultation with cellular industry and other stakeholders. Furthermore, GoP constituted Auction Advisory Committee in October 2020 under the chairmanship of Finance Minister. MoIT&T issued Policy Directive on 4th August 2021 under which the process has been completed. License will be issued to Ufone which includes enhanced Network rollout obligations and Quality of Service standards to ensure consumers interest. He further said that Complaint Management System of PTA, launched in 2021 and upgraded in 2020, was used for facilitation of telecom consumers for lodging complaints, processing and redressal of consumers’ grievances. From November 2018 to September 2021, a total of 480,865 complaints were received and 238,656 resolved promptly, he added. Chairman PTA General (R) Amir Azim Bajwa said that the PTA launched an automated Lost and Stolen Device System (LSDS) for blocking of lost, stolen and snatched mobile phones in April 2021, under which it received around 9,963 blocking and unblocking requests so far.The chairman said that PTA also launched an automated module of SMS in February 2021 for blocking of mobile handsets, issuing warning to fraudsters and black-listing of CNICs for repeated violation. A total of 85,472 IMEIs had been blocked, 22,225 warnings were issued and 206 CNICs blacklisted, he added. He said since the implementation of Device Identification Registration and Blocking System (DIRBS), import of mobile devices via legal channels increased by 62 percent with revenue of Rs 46.27 billion. In 2020, around 38.14 million devices were imported with revenue of Rs 54 billion and in 2021, so far around 20.91 million devices have been imported through legal channels. Chairman PTA General (R) Amir Azim Bajwa said the PTA had issued Mobile Device Manufacturing (MDM) authorization to 29 companies including foreign and local companies with brands like Samsung, Vivo, Oppo, Nokia, Alcatel, Techno and Infinix. Chairman PTA General (R) Amir Azim Bajwa said within seven months of MDM authorization issuance, around 12.48 million mobile devices had been manufactured locally which included over 5 million 4G smart phones. One company has also exported 5000 ‘Made in Pakistan’ Smart phones to United Arab Emirates. Establishment of 26 manufacturing plants had been brought in an investment of over $126 million and created over 10,000 jobs in a short span of 7 months. To a question, he said that PTA was working actively to block fake SIMs and due to the action taken by the authority, the number of fake SIM cards had significantly decreased. “We are committed to totally eliminate fake SIMs” he added. He said that PTA is continuously pursuing the govt’s goal of uplifting all segments of the society through modern day Information & Communication Technologies (ICTs). He said that PTA is continuously pursuing the govt’s goal of uplifting all segments of the society through modern day Information & Communication Technologies (ICTs).

He said that Pakistan’s telecom sector has become a role model for other sectors in reshaping the economic destiny of the people and for continued support towards digital transformation of Pakistan, as envisioned by country’s leadership. He stated that pace of digital transformation has been accelerated with COVID-19. As the World adjusts to the new-normal, the focus of the telecom sector has also shifted from accessibility and availability to resilience, continuity, quality and affordability. He further stated that Pakistan’s telecom sector has become a role model for other sectors in reshaping the economic destiny of the people and for continued support towards digital transformation of Pakistan, as envisioned by country’s leadership. He said that PTA is emphasizing on the growth, usage penetration and quality of broadband services to every nook and corner of the country. There are now over 100 million broadband subscribers in Pakistan with total tele density at 85%, over 181 million mobile subscribers and 2.4 million fixed-line subscribers. 88% of Pakistan has access to internet/broadband services at one of the lowest rates in the region. He said that PTA is committed to continue its efforts to maintain support for consumers & businesses, and to ensure that networks remain resilient and quality telecommunication services are available to all, especially in this difficult time. ‘’PTA remains at the forefront of the digital revolution to facilitate and regulate the telecom and ICT infrastructure’’ he added.