The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has imposed financial penalties totaling Rs. 3.41 billion on telecom operators for failing to comply with prescribed service quality standards over the last four years.
During the same period, PTA conducted more than 500 Quality of Service (QoS) surveys across urban and rural areas, highways, motorways and railway corridors, along with more than 200 complaint-based surveys.
Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja disclosed these figures in a written reply submitted to the National Assembly.
The PTA also issued 20 warning letters and 86 Show Cause Notices (SCNs) to telecom operators as part of its enforcement measures against non-compliance with service quality requirements.
PTA Monitors Telecom Service Quality
According to the written reply, PTA has maintained an active enforcement regime to ensure telecom operators comply with prescribed service quality standards.
Shaza said telecom operators charge consumers according to their advertised tariffs. They are also responsible for maintaining service quality standards under the terms and conditions of their respective licences.
According to She, some operators offer regional or location-based packages at lower rates than corresponding nationwide packages. These packages are based on commercial considerations and regional market dynamics.
Existing Rules Allow Financial Penalties
The minister said the administration has not proposed a separate policy for imposing additional financial penalties on telecom operators.
According to her, the existing legal and regulatory framework already allows action against operators that fail to meet their obligations.
PTA can issue warning letters and Show Cause Notices and impose financial penalties under the Pakistan Telecommunication (Reorganization) Act, 1996, applicable licences and the Cellular Mobile Network QoS Regulations.
New Spectrum Rules Raise QoS Requirements
Shaza said the regulatory framework has additionally been strengthened through the recent spectrum auction and revised Next Generation Mobile Services (NGMS) licence conditions.
The measures include enhanced rollout obligations, additional 4G and 5G sites, higher QoS benchmarks and phased network modernization.
According to the written reply, these measures, along with ongoing regulatory enforcement, are aimed at improving telecom services in underserved and affected areas while ensuring greater accountability from operators.
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