Karachi: Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) is seeking the opinion of cellular mobile operators (CMOs) regarding the reduction of off-net call rates, which have been deemed too high, reported a local newspaper.
According to experts, current rates are 111pc to 198pc higher than they should be. Landline to mobile and mobile-to-mobile interconnection charges (MTR) are said to have been last changed in 2008.
A report from PTA said decrease in off-net call rates will help in reducing grey traffic since demand for making calls via illegal means will fall.
Real MTR should be around Rs0.30 to Rs0.43 per minute taking purchasing power parity into the equation. Current MTR rate of Rs0.90 per minute is said to be 111pc to 198pc higher, said the PTA report.
For the time being, PTA has come forth to offer an MTR rate of Rs0.80 per minute starting December 1st, 2017 to November 30th, 2018 and Rs0.70 per minute from December 2018.
Pakistan’s MTR regionally is among the highest in the region being 0.85 cents higher than Bangladesh (0.22), India (0.21) and Sri Lanka (0.32).
Under the Telecom Policy 2015, PTA will carry out a cost-based study to ascertain termination rates.
