PTA Urged to Get Single Mobility Rule Implemented for PTCL's EVO Services

PTA Urged to Get Single Mobility Rule Implemented for PTCL's EVO Services

At a time when next-gen mobile licenses are about to get auctioned, Mobile phone companies operating in Pakistan have finally realized that PTCL is violating single mobility rule for its EVO and Nitro services and hence asked Pakistan Telecommunication Authority to intervene and confine PTCL to abide by single mobility rule for its wireless broadband services.

For those who don’t know, according to WLL (Wireless Local Loop) licenses  — under which PTCL is operating its EVO and Nitro services – operators are bound to offer telephony and internet services with-in the geographical limits of one cell site or BTS.

Meaning that, WLL operators are bound to offer telephony and internet services to customers with-in their registered addresses and coverage of BTS installed in their respective locations.

According to Telecommunication De-regulation Policy 2003:

LL licensees who opt for wireless solutions may provide limited mobility within a cell, but not beyond local call charging radius. No inter-cell handovers and roaming to other networks will be allowed.

Single mobility rule is primarily the difference between WLL and GSM license as GSM licensees can offer services beyond single BTS throughout the country or even beyond.

If implemented, PTCL EVO customers using EVO services at home, for instance, will not be able to use the service beyond a geographical circumference of 3-5 kilometres or outside of their registered BTS.

Pakistan Telecommunication Authority – back in 2005 – had issued a directive for WLL operators to get single mobility rule implemented. This determination is still effective, however not followed by PTCL and other  WLL operators.

Mobile phone companies – except Ufone that is subsidiary of PTCL — have now united again to peruse the same case against PTCL, which enjoys over 1 million EVO customers. This is especially crucial for mobile operators to get EVO out of competition because they themselves are soon going to offer wireless broadband services through 3G and 4G technologies.

If Single Mobility Rule is implemented, PTCL’s EVO service is feared to lose its majority of customer base, as company had been selling the service for its mobility features.

If implemented in true spirit, PTCL’s EVO service is feared to lose its majority of customer base, as company had been selling the service for its mobility features.

This is another blow to PTCL’s EVO services after it recently paid Rs. 84 million fine for illegally using extra spectrum.

[images via Propakistani]