Voice and SMS Packages to Continue in pakistan

Update: Voice and SMS Packages to Continue, Only Chat Rooms to End

It appears that the telecom sector was yesterday stormed with the biggest ever mis-understanding, as a directive coming from PTA ordered telecom operators to dis-continue Voice and SMS Packages. Same was interpreted by media and the telecom operators with whom we had confirmed the directive.

However, it is now emerging that that only voice and SMS chat rooms are to get blocked, and the usual SMS bundles and voice bundles that telecom companies offer are going to remain intact.

This mis-understanding was spread across the telecom industry as we had spoken with at least a dozen telco officials who were equally shocked at the decision.

PTA’s yesterday letter which clearly read
“Packages Offered by CMTOs Contrary to Moral Values of the Society” is now asked to interpret as chat rooms that are offered by cellular companies, with which their customers could chat anonymously with other subscribers.

While there was no mention of chat rooms in the letter, the term used as chat packages is apparently what had confused everyone.

Telco officials have confirmed ProPakistani that they have received verbal communication from PTA about the issue and it is likely that PTA will issue a follow-up directive or a clarification later today.

A telco official said that they still think that SMS and Voice bundles are to be stopped, unless there comes a new directive clarifying the situation. He said that PTA must had used the term “Chat Rooms” instead of “Chat Packages” as this is how telcos advertise the offering.

Furthermore, Chat Rooms are offerings, not packages and should have been termed accordingly, the official concluded.

We will update this story as soon as we receive the clarification from PTA, or any development on the story.