Telecom

PTA Issues SOPs for Cross Border Communication Links

PTA has issued Standard Operating Procedures for internet and telecom companies to establish cross border communication links with neighboring countries.

After government has allowed private internet and telecom companies to do agreements with neighbor countries for internet and telephone service using wireless, satellite and submarine networks. PTA has been mandated to facilitate the process of NOC approval in this regard.

PTA said that every eligible licensee intending to establish cross border bilateral/transit communication links with neighboring countries of Pakistan via terrestrial fixed wire-line/wireless or satellite shall require prior approval from the authority.

The application for cross border link shall include valid agreement/Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with counterpart in other country, capacity and physical route of the link, type of traffic, expected volume of traffic, technical plan along with layouts, location of peering point and financial plan including expected revenue for the next 5 years.

The Ministry of Information Technology & Telecommunication has constituted an Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) that consist various members for evaluation to grant NOC.

The final approval shall be granted by PTA on many conditions which includes, obtaining satisfactory report from the concerned agencies regarding provision of national security, clearance report from Finance, Commercial Affairs, Licensing and Technical Services Divisions regarding clearance of all outstanding dues, satisfactory inspection report from Enforcement Division, PTA regarding fulfillment of other conditions as contained in PiP and fulfillment of requirements of any new policy for the time being enforced.

Via Daily Times