ISLAMABAD ( ABRAR MUSTAFA )
PTA finally wakes up! Demands HEC to take apply for license to distribute Internet:
As reported earlier on TelecoAlert.com, HEC was found to be selling internet commercial. Further investigation revealed that it was indeed selling internet connectivity though Pakistan Educational Research Network (PERN).
Chairman, Pakistan Telecom Authority was notified about this during a very high level meeting some weeks back. The delegate visiting the Chairman asked that PTA should take strict action to stop HEC as it is against both the country’s laws and PTA’s telecommunication regulations.
PERN is the subsidized internet service that was created specifically for educational institutions of the country.
It is now being reported that PTA has finally took notice of this situation and has informed HEC that it should apply for the DATA Class value added license for the provision of internet/data services. This was stated in the letter sent to the HEC directly from PTA (See below).
Many were surprised by PTA’s eventual action as most believed that it would not be doing anything. During the high level meeting last week, it was reported that many members expressed disappointment at the PTA’s Chairman reaction and strongly reinforced that something should be done as HEC’s activities were going to harm the ISPs that have paid considerably to acquire licenses to operate in the country.
