Free Download Full Version Software: Telecom News

Showing posts with label Telecom News. Show all posts

Zong Sponsors Van Service for Women in Islamabad / Rawalpindi

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zgCUPaWDI0E/UvWkWnWzpMI/AAAAAAAAFRU/v1hN-Ci9YlY/s1600/Zong_Tabeer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zgCUPaWDI0E/UvWkWnWzpMI/AAAAAAAAFRU/v1hN-Ci9YlY/s1600/Zong_Tabeer.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="wp-caption-text" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: blue;">Secretary DRTA Mr. Awais Manzoor Tarar along 
with Mr. Ali Hamdani CEO Al-Abrar Associates and Ms.Nabila Yazdani, Dy. 
Director HR, Zong at the press launch of project Tabeer.</span></div>
Taking further the Government of Punjab’s objective of women 
empowerment, Al-Abrar Associates, RTA (Regional Transport Authority) and
 ZonG have joined hands to launch a Women Exclusive Van service – 
“Tabeer” for the commuting women of Islamabad/ Rawalpindi.<br />

Lack of safe, secure, comfortable and economic transport is one of 
the reasons that even skilled and educated women are unable to break out
 of the cycle of grinding poverty.<br />

To provide a sustainable solution to this issue, DRTA has taken a 
step of Project Tabeer in collaboration with Al-Abrar Associates, 
sponsored by Zong Flutter to allow every woman the right to avail 
convenient transport facility to commute for work. <a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_GoBack"></a><br />

Expressing his views on the Project Tabeer initiative, Mr. Awais 
Manzoor Tarar, Secretary DRTA said, “With the very first initiative of 
its kind taken by private sector, DRTA in collaboration with Al-Abrar 
Associates and support of Zong wishes to take the endeavors of 
Government of Punjab for women’s empowerment to a new level. Public 
Transport is one area where we feel women face a number of problems and 
hence we couldn’t think of any better platform than a dedicated van 
service for the working women of Islamabad and Rawalpindi which will 
offer them a safe and easy commute.”<br />

12 exclusive branded vans will facilitate women, in not only 
commuting between the twin cities, but also serve as a hub of 
information on ZonG Flutter packages with the added advantage of 
allowing women to avail recharge facility on the go.<br />

This is in line with Zong Flutter’s tagline, “Meri dunya, Merey 
khwaab”, specifically dedicated to help women realize their dreams. 
Project Tabeer is yet another step in that direction.<br />

Speaking on sponsoring Project Tabeer, Ms. Esna Bhatti, Product 
Manager Flutter, ZonG said: “We are grateful to RTA, Al-Abrar Associates
 and the Government of Punjab in turning the Tabeer project into a 
reality. Since ZonG Flutter is all about females, the project was a 
natural fit with the values that ZonG Flutter stands for. Hence, we 
decided to become the principal sponsors of the project”.<br />

Sharing her thoughts on Project Tabeer, Ms. Nabila Yazdani – Deputy 
Director HR, ZonG said, “At ZonG, we are sensitive to the many problems 
faced by Pakistani women to stand up for their rights and understand the
 hurdles faced by Pakistani women every single day. Hence, Tabeer is our
 way of letting women in Pakistan know that we respect their ambitions 
and want to become active partners in helping them achieve a prominent 
status in the society”.<br />
<div class="adsxpls" id="adsxpls1" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
</div>
Talking about the project, Mr. Ali Hamdani, CEO Al-Abrar Associates 
said, “We are pleased to collaborate with ZonG, Government of Punjab and
 RTA to bring together this very special project. Al-Abrar, Government 
of Punjab and ZonG Flutter share a common goal of facilitating the women
 of Pakistan. There could be no better way of empowering the women of 
Punjab than launching Project Tabeer, women exclusive van service 
providing them a safe and comfortable commute facility to get a step 
closer to their dreams and ambitions. We plan to expand this facility in
 other areas of Punjab after initial success in the twin cities”<br />

Following are the routes for 12 vans that are started as a pilot project:<br />

<h4>
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Route No. 1: </span></h4>
Haider Road Saddar Rawalpindi to Pak Secretariat Islamabad via 
Railway Station, Marrer Chowk, Moti Mahal, Committee Chowk, Waris Khan, 
Naz Cinema, Central Hospital, Sadiq Abad, Rehman Abad, Shamsabad, Faiz 
Abad, Zero Point, Fire Brigade, Abpara, Melody, GPO, Poly Clinic, F6/1, 
Super Market, Pak Secretariat.<br />

<b>Route length: 23 km.</b><br />

<br />

<h4>
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Route No. 7: </span></h4>
Haj Complex to Swan Camp via Golra Morr, Kohinoor Mil, Pir Wadai 
Morr, Chur Depot, Cheering Cross, Radio Pakistan, Rece Course Ground, MH
 Chowk, Railway Station, Kamran Chowk, Marrer Chowk, District Courts, 
Morgah Morr, Alshafa, SOS Village.<br />

<b>Route length: 19 km.</b><br />

The salient feature of Tabeer Ladies Transport Project is that it 
will be self-sustaining and the revenue required for smooth execution of
 the project will be generated by branding the vans.<br />

<div class="wp-caption-text" style="text-align: left;">
This project will not only meet the travelling needs of females but 
will also generate employment for them as the vans will be conducted by 
the females also. Strict checking of timing and routes shall be ensured 
by regular monitoring to address the complaints if any of the lady 
passengers.</div>
</div>

Zong Sponsors Van Service for Women in Islamabad / Rawalpindi

Secretary DRTA Mr. Awais Manzoor Tarar along with Mr. Ali Hamdani CEO Al-Abrar Associates and Ms.Nabila Yazdani, Dy. Director HR, Zong...

8:29:00 AM

Telcos Team Up Against Unauthorized Shut Down of Cell Sites by Local Bodies

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-C5_YR_PPRxg/UvWjL4MC0rI/AAAAAAAAFRM/zyplgp5o50Y/s1600/Telcos+Team+Up+Against+Unauthorized+Shut+Down+of+Cell+Sites+by+Local+Bodies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="280" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-C5_YR_PPRxg/UvWjL4MC0rI/AAAAAAAAFRM/zyplgp5o50Y/s1600/Telcos+Team+Up+Against+Unauthorized+Shut+Down+of+Cell+Sites+by+Local+Bodies.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Cellular companies have gotten together to make sure that their cell 
sites and other wireless equipment is not shut down or damaged without 
any authorization from regulator.<br />

Reportedly some influential local authorities, such as city 
development authorities, housing authorities, and most frequently the 
cantonment boards etc. forcibly gain access to the BTS sites and shut 
them down without any authorization from PTA, causing cellular outage in
 vast areas resulting in depriving the general public of the right to 
communicate and also making emergency services inaccessible.<br />

Such illegal actions are for the singular purpose of coercing the 
CMTOs to pay the unreasonable demands of these local authorities or 
individual persons.<br />

It is obvious that shutting down or damaging cellular BTS sites and 
interfering with wireless communication deprives customers of cellular 
services and also affects the accessibility and link to emergency 
services and is a criminal offence.<br />

In a Writ Petitions filed by three Cellular Mobile Telecom Operators 
(CMTOs), the Rawalpindi Bench of Lahore High Court passed injunctive 
orders directing that BTS sites shall not be shut down except in 
accordance with the provisions of the Pakistan Telecommunication 
(Re-Organization) Act, 1996 (PTRA).<br />
<div class="adsxpls" id="adsxpls1" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
</div>
BTS sites which include the towers installed for hoisting the 
wireless antennas and the wireless switching equipment are the backbone 
of a cellular mobile network without which cellular mobile services 
cannot be provided and CMTOs under their licenses are obligated to keep 
telecom services operational at all times.<br />

Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) is the sole and exclusive 
authority, which may give orders for closure of any BTS Tower as per the
 provisions of the PTRA; a fact even admitted and acknowledged by the 
GHQ Signals Directorate in a letter recently issued to the Commander 10 
Corps highlighting the illegal closure of BTS sites by the CEO of the 
Cantonment Board Rawalpindi.<br />

Under Section 31 of the PTRA it is an offense to prevent or obstruct 
any licensed telecommunication system or telecommunication services as 
well as to damage or remove any telecommunication equipment and is 
punishable with imprisonment for period up to 3 years and fine up to Rs.
 10 million or both.<br />

Shutting down of BTS units is also an offence under Section 25 of the
 Telegraph Act 1885 punishable with imprisonment for a period up to 
three years or with fine or both. Additionally under the Anti-Terrorism 
Act, 1997 any act, which is designed to seriously interfere with or 
seriously disrupt a communication system or a public utility service is 
an offense punishable by imprisonment that may extend from one year to 
ten years and imposition of a fine.<br />

Last month PTA issued a letter acknowledging that only PTA may give 
orders for closure of any BTS Tower of the CMTOs remaining within the 
legal framework.<br />

In its letter which was issued to the Ministry of Defence and the CEO
 of the Cantonment Board Rawalpindi, PTA clarified that as per the 
provisions of the PTRA, it is an obligation of the CMTOs to provide 
uninterrupted telecommunication services to the consumers and under 
section 31 of the PTRA an attempt to prevent or obstruct any licensed 
telecommunication system or telecommunication services as well as to 
damage or remove any telecommunication equipment is a criminal offence.<br />

After cellular companies approached High Court and in parallel PTA 
also issued its notes to several government and local bodies, 
unfortunately, the trend of shutting down BTS sites only increased, 
especially just before the start of any national or local holiday such 
as Eid, Ashura etc. when they are aware that not only will cellular 
services be in extremely high demand but also restrict the CMOTs ability
 to seek immediate and urgent relief leaving with little option but to 
succumb such coercive harassment and pay the disputes or illegal demands
 to keep the cellular network operational for the benefit of the million
 of customers.</div>

Telcos Team Up Against Unauthorized Shut Down of Cell Sites by Local Bodies

Cellular companies have gotten together to make sure that their cell sites and other wireless equipment is not shut down or damaged with...

8:24:00 AM

Zong Sponsors National T20 Cup 2014

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-a-D1FiAFN0w/UvWiBP0BR6I/AAAAAAAAFQ8/5OJPIu9pIt0/s1600/Zong_T20_Sponsorship.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="232" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-a-D1FiAFN0w/UvWiBP0BR6I/AAAAAAAAFQ8/5OJPIu9pIt0/s1600/Zong_T20_Sponsorship.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="wp-caption-text" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: blue;">Mr. Intekhab Alam (L), Director Domestic 
Cricket, PCB and Mr. Sikandar Naqi (R), advisor to CEO, Zong, addressing
 the press conference to announce Zong’s sponsorship of National T20 Cup
 2014</span></div>
China Mobile Pakistan-Zong has announced its sponsorship of the 
National T20 Cup 2014 (Regional Cup). The tournament will be starting 
from 6th February, 2014 and includes a total of seventeen teams from all
 regions of Pakistan.<br />

Apart from being the major sponsor of the tournament, Zong has also 
committed itself to sponsoring five major teams, which are representing 
four provinces; Lahore Eagles, Karachi Zebras, Peshawar Panthers, Quetta
 Bears, and a federal team; Islamabad Leopards.<br />
<div class="adsxpls" id="adsxpls1" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
</div>
“Zong is immensely pleased and excited about sponsoring one of the 
most exhilarating domestic cricket tournaments of this season”, said Mr.
 Sikander Naqi, advisor to chief, Zong.<br />

“We have proudly become a regular patron of cricket and hope to see 
great sportsman spirit in this upcoming tournament. We wish all the 
teams involved in the Regional Cup 2014the best and look forward to 
entertainment of the highest level. By sponsoring this domestic 
tournament, Zong continues being at the center of people’s heart across 
the nation and its legacy of promoting sports in Pakistan”.<br />

<div class="wp-caption-text" style="text-align: left;">
Zong has previously taken many 
initiatives to support sports activities in Pakistan, the most notable 
one being their collaboration with Manchester United Football club. The 
company has been involved in supporting various international cricket 
series, polo and golf tournaments like Pakistan vs. South Africa series,
 Shandur Polo Festival and Chief of Naval Staff Amateur Golf 
Championship.</div>
</div>

Zong Sponsors National T20 Cup 2014

Mr. Intekhab Alam (L), Director Domestic Cricket, PCB and Mr. Sikandar Naqi (R), advisor to CEO, Zong, addressing the press conference...

8:20:00 AM

VP Sales and Deputy CTO of Mobilink Resign

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_dwO8nuhNnk/UvO6RNEdcTI/AAAAAAAAFQc/_CZzDScnU4w/s1600/Mobilink-Logo1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_dwO8nuhNnk/UvO6RNEdcTI/AAAAAAAAFQc/_CZzDScnU4w/s1600/Mobilink-Logo1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Recently <a href="http://rexhacker.blogspot.com/2014/01/mobilink-rotates-its-top-management.html" target="_blank">appointed</a>
 Vice President Sales, Mr. Irfan Akram and Mr. Irfan Farooq, Deputy 
Chief Technology Officer, have resigned from their positions at 
Mobilink, we have confirmed with sources.<br />

Moied Javeed will replace Irfan Akram as head of sales while the slot for Deputy CTO is likely to get abolished.<br />

Irfan Akram, who was previously heading Customer care, was <a href="http://rexhacker.blogspot.com/2014/01/mobilink-rotates-its-top-management.html" target="_blank">made the VP of Sales just a week ago</a>.
 He had previously headed sales, but that was before 2009 when market 
dynamics and competition situation was altogether different.<br />

It appears that along with long-running differences with the 
management, Mr. Akram decided to not to take on the new challenge and 
rather retired from his position.<br />
<div class="adsxpls" id="adsxpls1" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
</div>
Irfan Akram was working with Mobilink since 2003 while outgoing 
Deputy CTO, Irfan Farooq had been with Mobilink for last eighteen years 
in various capacities.<br />

Moied Javeed, the new sales chief, has been with Mobilink for last 
eight years. His recent most appointment as head of Data services at 
Mobilink earned the company at least five fold more customers and the 
revenues.<br />

Before Mobilink, Moied had worked for Telenor and World Call.<br />

Mobilink has been reshuffling its top management for a while now. 
Apparently the idea is to cope with the changing market situation and to
 take on upcoming challenges in the telecom industry of Pakistan.<br />

Appointment of a young individual as VP of Sales is a hint that Mobilink has decided to test the fresh and promising blood.</div>

VP Sales and Deputy CTO of Mobilink Resign

Recently appointed Vice President Sales, Mr. Irfan Akram and Mr. Irfan Farooq, Deputy Chief Technology Officer, have resigned from the...

9:39:00 PM

Ufone and Buksh Foundation Collaborate to Lighten Homes with Solar Energy

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FhaylmO86r8/UvO3tQ0_SrI/AAAAAAAAFQI/VnfrrdmTvY0/s1600/Ufone-Buksh-Foundation.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="247" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FhaylmO86r8/UvO3tQ0_SrI/AAAAAAAAFQI/VnfrrdmTvY0/s1600/Ufone-Buksh-Foundation.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div class="wp-caption-text">
<span style="color: blue;">Asher Yaqub Khan, Chief Commercial Officer, 
Ufone and Fiza Farhan, Chief Executive Officer, Buksh Foundation at the 
signing ceremony for “Lighting a Million Lives”</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Ufone has collaborated with Buksh Foundation, a microfinance 
organization, to bring convenience through electricity by becoming a 
part of the latter’s ‘Lighting a Million Lives’ campaign.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
The pilot project has been initiated in two villages in Chiniot and 
through this campaign Ufone intends to facilitate the access and use of 
solar lighting devices among Pakistan’s rural communities as part of its
 CSR program.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
A Solar Charging Station with five solar panels and five junction 
boxes has been set up in two villages, Thata Deva and Kalas. Lanterns 
have been distributed within households and these may be recharged 
through these solar panels.</div>
<div class="adsxpls" id="adsxpls1" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 0px; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
This initiative will remove the need for kerosene oil lamps and 
therefore, reduce carbon emissions into the atmosphere in the long run. 
It also aims to empower women as these stations will be run by selected 
women from the two villages, where they will be in charge of renting out
 and selling equipment at the charging stations.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Considering that about 43% (80 million people) of the total 
population of Pakistan lives without access to electricity, this will 
really illuminate the lives and homes of many village residents.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Mr. Asher Yaqub Khan, Chief Commercial Officer Ufone said, “Pakistan 
is facing a serious power problem. “A large section of the population in
 Pakistan’s rural areas is deprived of energy supply. Our partners at 
the Buksh Foundation are providing the technical support to boost energy
 security in rural areas like Chiniot where we have connected several 
houses through Solar Based Domestic Lighting Systems.”</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
“Ufone has always been a socially responsible company, we believe it 
is a great initiative for usto be able to work together and cooperate 
with Buksh foundation in the spirit of benefiting our country.” He 
further added.</div>
<div class="wp-caption-text" style="text-align: left;">
Fiza Farhan, Chief Executive Officer, Buksh Foundation said “Buksh 
Foundation is extremely proud of this new partnership with Ufone which 
promises immense impact in the targeted communities as we provide them 
with Solar charging stations, while furthering women empowerment and 
economic activity in the areas. With the support of Ufone we will be 
able to provide clean energy to those households that were earlier 
living in the dark; enabling them to get access to better education, 
health, economic activities, mobilization- simply a better life. This is
 the way forward towards the paradigm shift in CSR for larger corporates
 towards real time developmental impact – which is certain to lead to 
real change in Pakistan.”<span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
</div>

Ufone and Buksh Foundation Collaborate to Lighten Homes with Solar Energy

Asher Yaqub Khan, Chief Commercial Officer, Ufone and Fiza Farhan, Chief Executive Officer, Buksh Foundation at the signing ceremony ...

9:27:00 PM

Mobilink Gets WWF’s Green Office Award

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RlimzvQHjlg/UvO3Pos_dGI/AAAAAAAAFQA/y0fxP6i9h58/s1600/Mobilink.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RlimzvQHjlg/UvO3Pos_dGI/AAAAAAAAFQA/y0fxP6i9h58/s1600/Mobilink.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Mobilink has become the first Telecom organization to receive the WWF
 ‘Green Office Award’ in recognition for its environmentally sustainable
 practices.<br />

Mobilink received the Green Office Certification for its Regional 
Office Lahore premises for a 35% reduction in carbon footprint and 50% 
in solid waste among other measures taken.<br />

Omar Manzur, Head of Corporate Communication Mobilink said, 
“Mobilink’s Corporate Responsibility function ensures that our employees
 are aware of environment-friendly practices and make efficient use of 
resources. The Green Office Award recognizes the continuous efforts that
 the Mobilink Torchbearers, Mobilink Foundation and the Health, Safety, 
Security & Environment (HSSE) departments have put in to establish 
our first Green Office in Lahore with support from our employees.’’<br />
<div class="adsxpls" id="adsxpls1" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
</div>
The Certification was awarded after an in-depth inspection drive by 
the WWF Inspection Teams which took into account environmentally 
sustainable practices followed at Mobilink’s Lahore office premises.<br />

As part of the final audit, WWF also interviewed 150 Mobilink 
employees to assess employee involvement and awareness about the Green 
Office Program.<br />

Earlier in April 2013 Mobilink introduced an Environmental Management
 System (EMS) Program. As part of the program Mobilink continues to 
reduce the consumption of water and electricity as well as ensure 
reduction of solid waste produced as a result of its daily work 
practices. Selected Mobilink Torchbearers were nominated as “Green 
Wardens,” who advocated the Recycle-Reuse-Reduce (RRR) Scheme to 
increase awareness among other employees.<br />

Similar practices will be replicated in Mobilink’s offices across the country in line with WWF set Green Office guidelines.</div>

Mobilink Gets WWF’s Green Office Award

Mobilink has become the first Telecom organization to receive the WWF ‘Green Office Award’ in recognition for its environmentally sustai...

9:25:00 PM

PTCL Posts 97% Growth in Profits During 2013

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sWUqXA0r4Ok/UvCxnsfbKsI/AAAAAAAAFPw/YBOdMMQZjSA/s1600/PTCL_Logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sWUqXA0r4Ok/UvCxnsfbKsI/AAAAAAAAFPw/YBOdMMQZjSA/s1600/PTCL_Logo.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) posted a staggering
 Rs. 15.76 billion after-tax consolidated profits for the fiscal year 
2013, registering a 97% growth against Rs. 8 billion profits for FY 
2012.<br />

This massive growth in profits are mainly attributed to high margins 
earned through Long Distance and International business. Moreover, 
increased share and better revenues from broadband and cellular segment 
also contributed towards the hiked profits.<br />

Yearly revenues for PTCL group stood at Rs. 131.22 billion for the 
period ended December 31, 2013 against Rs. 62.48 billion revenues it 
generated during the previous year.<br />
PTCL’s (just the landline, broadband, LDI) revenues amounted Rs. 81.1
 billion while a net profit of Rs. 12.7 billion for the FY 2013.<br />

“The positive growth of PTCL’s revenue streams and net profits, 
points to our dynamic corporate strategy and our enhanced customer 
base,” said Walid Irshaid, PTCL CEO & President following the BoD 
meeting.<br />

“This strong performance during a sluggish economy has yet again 
proved that PTCL leads the ICT sector of Pakistan, added Mr. Walid.<br />

The company has also declared a final cash dividend of Re.  1 per 
share for the year ended, in addition to already paid interim dividend 
of Re.1 per share in July 2013. Thus the collective dividend for FY2013 
stood at Rs 2 per share.<br />

With <a href="http://rexhacker.blogspot.com/2014/01/breaking-telenor-exits-ich.html" target="_blank">future of ICH uncertain</a>, PTCL’s revenues in coming months remain hard to predict.</div>

PTCL Posts 97% Growth in Profits During 2013

Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) posted a staggering Rs. 15.76 billion after-tax consolidated profits for the fiscal ye...

2:27:00 PM

ICH’s Role in Curbing Grey Traffic

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vynZlbSThlI/Uu_R2p06NFI/AAAAAAAAFPM/Rgg94JT48_s/s1600/PTA.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="227" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vynZlbSThlI/Uu_R2p06NFI/AAAAAAAAFPM/Rgg94JT48_s/s1600/PTA.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<strong>By Sohaib Sheikh</strong><br />

Ever received an international call with a local number? If yes, then that call came through illegal grey channels.<br />

For those who are not familiar, grey traffic is the way to carry 
international voice traffic into Pakistan through the internet (VoIP) 
and then terminating those voice calls on exchanges within the country. 
These exchanges are capable of transferring VoIP calls to local 
networks.<br />

The costs of carrying voice traffic to Pakistan, government taxes and
 various levies involved during the process is pocketed by grey traffic 
smugglers, which is estimated to be around the $350 to $400-million mark
 per year.<br />

This industry is only growing with time and resulting into huge 
losses to the national exchequer, local telecom operators and the 
national economy.<br />

The scourge of grey traffic<br />

The phenomenon of grey traffic dates back to the nineties. However, 
it picked up only during 2006-07 when mobile penetration in the country 
grew at optimum rates.<br />

Grey traffickers cause a loss to the national exchequer by setting up
 illegal exchanges as they do not pay LDI license fee worth $0.5 million
 and a renewal fee of 0.5% of the annual gross revenue. They do not 
collect any taxes for the government and pose a grave threat to national
 security as all calls are unmonitored.<br />

The illegal exchanges can be set up at low cost by grey traffickers 
amid the presence of cheap Chinese equipment is in the country. 
Operators also set up multiple SIMS of local cellular service providers 
which route these calls through VOIP services.<br />

<h4>
<span style="font-weight: bold;">What is the ICH?</span></h4>
Serious concerns over grey traffic first surfaced around 2008, when 
the then Pakistan Telecommunication (PTA) chairman and other officials 
of the telecom industry tabled the idea of bringing in International 
Clearing House (ICH), essentially a centralised place through which 
international calls would be brought into Pakistan.<br />

The main goal of the ICH was to centralise traffic route through a 
single channel so that illegal traffic could be detected and curtailed. 
Along with improving the margin of incoming calls, the operators would 
provide equipment to relevant authorities to detect the location of the 
illegal exchanges set up by the grey traffickers.<br />
<div class="adsxpls" id="adsxpls1" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
</div>
The premise of the ICH was also to improve return for the government 
with enhanced collection of taxes and monitoring of sensitive 
information. The ICH would have also improved viability for LDI 
operators and protect loss of jobs due to failure of business. Inflow of
 foreign exchange would have increased as well. The ICH would also help 
the Universal Service Fund bridge the digital divide providing access to
 telecom facilities to all citizens of Pakistan.<br />

The IT ministry, under the previous government, re-reviewed the ICH 
proposal and went ahead with its implementation. As expected, the 
initial rise in tariffs also gave rise to grey traffic as people 
resorted to using cheaper medium of communication — illegal exchanges.<br />

There is a misconception that the Pakistan termination rates have 
increased after the establishment of the ICH. The settlement rate in pre
 ICH scenario was 6.25 cents, which has increased to 8.8.<br />

While looking at the LDI business holistically, it must be reviewed 
that the termination rates of foreign operators in Middle East and 
Europe (for mobile termination) are in the range of 10-15 cents that is 
still higher than 8.8. These countries account for two-thirds of the 
traffic terminated in Pakistan.<br />

Although the Pakistan market termination rates in the pre ICH period 
were low, foreign operators were still charging higher tariffs to their 
subscribers. Therefore, the entire margin was reaped by the foreign 
operators resulting in a loss to the national economy. The ICH merely 
balanced this phenomenon, helping local operations become more viable.<br />

<h4>
<span style="font-weight: bold;">What lies ahead for the industry?</span></h4>
The requirement for the ICH needs to be understood before being 
rejected and outrightly banned. The ICH may have a teething problem but 
given time, grey traffic would be reduced and, eventually, resolved.<br />

The PTA has already blocked over 200,000 IPs that were routing grey 
traffic, thousands of SIMs have been blocked and multiple raids have 
been conducted to shut down illegal gateways. In addition to this, the 
PTA has created awareness among people to report any illegal call they 
receive in an attempt to track and shut down these illegal exchanges.<br />

Although there are calls within the industry to also cancel the 
licence of Chinese companies who are selling the gateways in Pakistan, 
it seems unlikely.<br />

On the other hand, the PTA needs to draft a policy where these 
companies would need to declare details of their transactions. Any sale 
to unlicenced operators would then be curbed.<br />

This would be another step to curb the setting up of these illegal exchanges.<br />

Some LDI operators who are involved in such activities are coming to 
light as Wisecomm, an LDI operator, was recently shut down by FIA and 
their bank accounts seized on account of grey trafficking. The post ICH 
world is much better for the government and all players involved should 
also try to understand its importance.<br />

<em>The writer is head of marketing at Wateen Telecom Limited.</em></div>

ICH’s Role in Curbing Grey Traffic

By Sohaib Sheikh Ever received an international call with a local number? If yes, then that call came through illegal grey channels. ...

10:29:00 PM

Application Filed for Issuance of Contempt of Court Orders Against CEO, Telenor Pakistan

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-N--U-CLP1vM/UuxtdVNcP6I/AAAAAAAAFN0/2z5fqS8cGBs/s1600/telenor-logo1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-N--U-CLP1vM/UuxtdVNcP6I/AAAAAAAAFN0/2z5fqS8cGBs/s1600/telenor-logo1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
An application has been filed with Sindh High Court to issue Contempt
 of Court notices to Mr. Lars Christian Iuel, CEO, Telenor Pakistan and 
Mr. Salman Malik, CEO, Telenor LDI Communications, a subsidiary of 
Telenor Pakistan, for <a href="http://rexhacker.blogspot.com/2014/01/breaking-telenor-exits-ich.html" target="_blank">exiting ICH</a> when the court had directed all ICH players to maintain the status quo on ICH till further notice.<br />

It merits mentioning here that Sindh High Court had issued an interim
 directive on January 27th, 2014 for maintaining the Status Quo of 
International Clearing House or ICH till any further notice.<br />

A court order sent today (January 31st, 2014) to CEO, Telenor 
Pakistan and CEO of Telenor LDI Communication – copy of which is 
available with RexHacker – said that both the individuals are 
required to appear in the court in person on February 4th, 2014 to 
submit their reply against the application filed by LDI operators.<br />

It maybe recalled that Telenor – on January 29th, 2014 – <a href="http://rexhacker.blogspot.com/2014/01/breaking-telenor-exits-ich.html" target="_blank">announced</a> that it exited ICH citing huge losses due to increased grey traffic and hence lesser revenues from LDI business.<br />
<div class="adsxpls" id="adsxpls1" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
</div>
In its press release – received by media on Jan 29th – Telenor maintained that it exited ICH on January 25th, 2014.<br />

Our sources confirm that Telenor Pakistan was not happy the revenue 
share it was getting through ICH. Sources said that due to decrement in 
its revenues, Telenor had asked PTA and ICH consortium to compensate it 
through MTR-I (Mobile Termination Rate) of Rs. 1.20 per minute, which 
was never implemented and as a protest Telenor exited ICH.<br />

Telenor said that it had communicated its concerns to PTA and 
Ministry of IT, well ahead of exiting ICH, but they were never addressed
 and it was left with no option but to leave ICH.<br />

Amid opposition from CCP, ICH was implemented on October 1st, 2012
 with a primary purpose of eliminating grey traffic. However, grey 
traffic only grew after ICH and legal international incoming traffic to 
Pakistan dropped from 1.9 billion minutes per month to mere 450 million 
minutes per month.<br />

Interestingly, since ICH was formed on the direction of Pakistan 
Telecommunication Authority under the policy from Ministry of 
Information technology, it remains unclear if Telenor could exit ICH on 
its own without any approvals from PTA.</div>

Application Filed for Issuance of Contempt of Court Orders Against CEO, Telenor Pakistan

An application has been filed with Sindh High Court to issue Contempt of Court notices to Mr. Lars Christian Iuel, CEO, Telenor Pakistan...

8:46:00 AM

PTCL Upgrades All 1Mbps Economy Subscribers to 2Mbps Economy Package

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dVjqY5XURug/UuxsPegPc7I/AAAAAAAAFNs/9bu1e4RTIvk/s1600/PTCL-2Mpbs-Economy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="134" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dVjqY5XURug/UuxsPegPc7I/AAAAAAAAFNs/9bu1e4RTIvk/s1600/PTCL-2Mpbs-Economy.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
PTCL has upgraded all of its 1Mbps economy package subscribers to 2Mbps Economy package automatically with same monthly rental till April 30th, 2014.<br />

PTCL, on its website, said that 2Mbps Economy Package will allow all 
existing 1Mbps Economy Package subscribers to enjoy double data rate 
speed.<br />
<div class="adsxpls" id="adsxpls1" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
</div>
From May 1st, 2014 all subscribers with 2Mbps Economy package will be
 charged with Rs. 750 per month with a data limit of 10 GBs per month.<br />

All customer who do not wish to continue with 2Mbps Economy will have
 to Opt out by calling 1236 and reverting back to 1Mbps Economy, or they
 will be shifted to 2Mbps Economy package for ever.<br />

It was way better if PTCL had offered an opt-in upgrade instead of 
forcefully upgrading customers to high-bandwidths and then charging 
extra from them after the promotion period.<br />

<strong>Promotion Highlights:</strong><br />

<ul>
<li>All 1Mbps Economy Package users are upgraded to 2Mbps Economy package</li>
<li>2Mbps Economy package promotion charges: Rs. 499 per month</li>
<li>Download Limit for 2Mbps Economy pacge: 10 GBs</li>
<li>Additional GBs at Rs. 100 per GB</li>
<li>Billing Cap at Rs. 1,500 per month</li>
<li>Upgrade Promotion is valid up to 30th April 2014</li>
<li>All customer who do not wish to continue with 2Mbps Economy will 
have to Opt out by calling 1236 and reverting back to 1Mbps Economy.</li>
<li>From 1st May 2014 2Mbps Economy charges @ Rs.750 per month will be 
charged. (10GB download limit, Additional GBs at Rs. 100 per GB with 
billing cap at Rs. 1,750 per month.</li>
</ul>
</div>

PTCL Upgrades All 1Mbps Economy Subscribers to 2Mbps Economy Package

PTCL has upgraded all of its 1Mbps economy package subscribers to 2Mbps Economy package automatically with same monthly rental till April...

8:39:00 AM

Ufone Celebrates its 13th Anniversary

Ufone Celebrates its 13th Anniversary

Ufone celebrated its 13th anniversary this week with central cake cutting ceremony held at Ufone Tower in Islamabad. The event was atten...

12:01:00 PM

PTCL Invests in Largest Submarine Cable System

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FyZCD2hba5k/UutJyij2gJI/AAAAAAAAFNE/RyJa0VjfLeU/s1600/PTCL+Invests+in+Largest+Submarine+Cable+System.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="177" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FyZCD2hba5k/UutJyij2gJI/AAAAAAAAFNE/RyJa0VjfLeU/s1600/PTCL+Invests+in+Largest+Submarine+Cable+System.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) has said that it is
 investing in one of the largest international submarine cable 
consortium system, in collaboration with the leading telecom operators 
of the world.<br />

The undersea cable system encompasses a multimillion dollar 
investment and will enable Pakistan to meet its future information 
communications needs.<br />

Spanning approximately 25,000 KMs, the AAE-1 submarine cable will be 
one of the first cable systems connecting Hong Kong, Singapore, Middle 
East, Africa and Europe and provide an alternative low latency route 
between Pakistan and rest of the world.<br />

The new cable system, Asia Africa Europe (AAE-1), will be adding 
terabits of bandwidth to PTCL’s international capacity, besides building
 redundancy to its existing international infrastructure on eastern and 
western side of the Arabian Sea.<br />

Sayyed Muhammad Imran Ali, PTCL Executive Vice President (EVP) 
International Business Relations and Essa Khalifa Alsuwaidi, PTCL 
Executive Vice President (EVP) International Investments & Capacity 
Sales represented PTCL at the signing ceremony.<br />
“This global initiative marks our vision to cater for the growing 
broadband and data services requirements of Pakistan for both the 
consumer and corporate segments”, said Walid Irshaid, President & 
CEO, Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL).<br />

“This will be the fourth high capacity undersea cable system of PTCL 
and will serve as a catalyst to stimulate growth and development in the 
country by providing robust, reliable and lowest latency connectivity. 
The company has already invested in three international cable consortium
 systems SMW3, SMW4 and IMEWE, which act as a gateway for Pakistan to 
the information superhighway”, added Walid Irshaid.<br />

AAE-1 is one of the largest cable systems launched and will employ 
100Gbps technology with wavelength add/drop branching units along the 
lowest latency route and a design capacity of over 40 terabits.<br />

The seventeen major carriers including China Unicom, Chuan Wei, 
Djibouti Telecom, Etisalat, Mobily, Omantel, OTEGLOBE, Ooredoo, PCCW 
Global, Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL), Telecom 
Egypt, TOT, Viettel and some other carriers, have signed the 
Construction and Maintenance Agreement (C&MA) in Hong Kong on 
January 27, 2014 to officially mark the commencement of the AAE-1 
Project.<br />

Additionally, having two diversified Points of Presence (PoP) in Asia
 (Hong Kong and Singapore) and three onward connectivity options in 
Europe (via France, Italy and Greece) will provide the requisite 
flexibility for these carriers and their customers.<br />

The target completion date for AAE-1 cable construction is the year 
2016. When completed, it will connect Hong Kong, Vietnam, Cambodia, 
Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, India, Pakistan, Oman, UAE, Qatar, Yemen,
 Djibouti, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Greece, Italy and France.</div>

PTCL Invests in Largest Submarine Cable System

Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) has said that it is investing in one of the largest international submarine cable con...

12:00:00 PM

Wateen to Offer Managed VSAT Services to State Bank of Pakistan

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QrngAf6Meac/UutJShA2GGI/AAAAAAAAFM8/kn19mQ1OPNA/s1600/Wateen-Logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="250" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QrngAf6Meac/UutJShA2GGI/AAAAAAAAFM8/kn19mQ1OPNA/s1600/Wateen-Logo.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Wateen today announced that it has been awarded a three year Managed 
Services contract by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) to provide VSAT 
Hub & Spoke operations, field maintenance and technical support to 
connect its Head office and 14 regional and branch offices. <br />

Being the central bank of Pakistan with countrywide operations, State
 Bank of Pakistan felt the need to centralize its applications to reach 
all its branches. Wateen’s VSAT Bandwidth on PAKSAT Satellite will 
connect 15 State Bank sites. This will reduce the costs on distributed 
backend operations of State Bank of Pakistan by bringing them to the 
front end with the centralization of core backend applications.<br />
During this three year project, starting this month, Wateen Telecom 
will maintain PAKSAT satellite Bandwidth and will provide 24-hour (SLA) 
services to State Bank of Pakistan. Wateen Telecom won this project 
after tough competition with other vendors, primarily due to the 
company’s big customer clientele of VSAT and excellent support model in 
telecom sector.<br />

Commenting on the contract, Mr. Naeem Zamindar, CEO Wateen Telecom, said,<br />

<blockquote>
“This achievement is a direct result of Wateen’s 
provision of best service quality to all its customers; we are committed
 to the success of our customers. We are pleased to have been selected 
for this project, which underscores Wateen’s expertise in providing an 
array of maintenance and equipment services to the State Bank of 
Pakistan. We look forward to expanding our relationship with the SBP 
with this important achievement.”</blockquote>
</div>

Wateen to Offer Managed VSAT Services to State Bank of Pakistan

Wateen today announced that it has been awarded a three year Managed Services contract by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) to provide VS...

11:58:00 AM

Mobilink Becomes the World’s Fastest Growing Brand on Facebook

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-w8F_DSf4r-8/UutIcXwpQ-I/AAAAAAAAFM0/uWF46TzfGr8/s1600/Mobilink.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="192" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-w8F_DSf4r-8/UutIcXwpQ-I/AAAAAAAAFM0/uWF46TzfGr8/s1600/Mobilink.png" width="400" /></a></div>
Mobilink has been certified as the World’s Fastest Growing Brand on 
Social Media by Social Bakers, global provider of network statistics and
 analysis for the most commonly used social networks.<br />

This is the first time a Pakistani Brand has led the global charts of
 any social media ranking. Social Bakers has also marked Mobilink as the
 most socially devoted Pakistani for a second consecutive month on all 
social fronts.<br />
The achievement followed Mobilink’s fan base crossing the milestone 
of over 2.1 million Facebook fans and twitter followers growing to more 
than 89,000. This marks Mobilink as the leading telecom brand on social 
media with maximum likes on Facebook (www.facebook.com/mobilink) and the
 most followers on its twitter account (www.twitter.com/mobilink).<br />

Ali Murtaza, Director Marketing Mobilink said, “The overwhelming 
response of our growing fan base on the social media and our leading 
statistics are reflective of our focus on providing the best customer 
experience on all fronts. As social media and mobile internet become a 
popular way of modern communication, Mobilink continues to empower its 
customers with the best online experience to create ‘A better every day’
 for everyone.’<br />

Mobilink has recorded the best response rate of 94% for customer 
queries on social media according to Social Bakers. The Twitter 
statistics issued by Social Bakers for the month of December show that 
Mobilink has escalated through the charts to reach the Klout score of 61
 with a clear 5 points lead over the closest competitor as of January 1,
 2014.<br />

Mobilink’s dominant strategy of connecting with its fans on the 
social media was part of the launch of its new brand identity Har Dil – 
Har Din in June last year. Mobilink has since seen a significant 
increase in popularity and has been acknowledged for its online customer
 engagement to become the most followed telecom brand on the social 
media.</div>

Mobilink Becomes the World’s Fastest Growing Brand on Facebook

Mobilink has been certified as the World’s Fastest Growing Brand on Social Media by Social Bakers, global provider of network statistics...

11:55:00 AM

Breaking: Telenor Exits ICH

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-B_d3tAZaaO8/Uum34ujsYpI/AAAAAAAAFMU/K8CcAqz5ClY/s1600/Telenor+Exits+ICH.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-B_d3tAZaaO8/Uum34ujsYpI/AAAAAAAAFMU/K8CcAqz5ClY/s1600/Telenor+Exits+ICH.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
As expected, Telenor today announced publicly that it has exited ICH 
or International Clearing House from January 25th, 2014, after which ICH
 – by definition – has collapsed altogether.<br />

Telenor said that Telenor LDI Communications (Pvt.) Ltd (TLC), a 
subsidiary of Telenor Pakistan has made its exit from the International 
Clearing House (ICH) due to heavy losses to Telenor as an enterprise.<br />

International Clearing House, implemented under a policy issued by 
MoIT, included 14 LDI operators. However, during the while, mobile 
companies – Telenor and Mobilink specifically – were not contented due 
to share they were getting out of consolidated international incoming 
traffic’s revenues.<br />

At the time of implementation of ICH Mobile Termination Rate of Rs. 
1.20 for international incoming (MTRI) was proposed for mobile 
operators, however, it was never implemented.<br />
<div class="adsxpls" id="adsxpls1" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
</div>
As a result, Telenor showed its concerns last month when ICH was to be reviewed by Ministry.<br />

Telenor said it faced financial losses of more than PKR 2.2 billion 
since the establishment of ICH and upward revision of Total Accounting 
Rate/Access Promotion Charge.<br />

Muhammad Aslam Hayat, Vice President Corporate Affairs Telenor 
Pakistan said on the development, “Elimination of grey traffic is a 
focus area for us. We have worked closely with the regulator in reducing
 grey traffic that is detrimental to telecom operators and the economy 
alike. Unfortunately, it has been observed that the grey traffic has 
increased considerably since the formation of ICH and upward revision of
 Total Accounting Rate/ Access Promotion Charge. This has also had an 
adverse effect on our business thus causing substantial revenue losses 
that are affecting our ability to run as a stable business entity. 
Staying in ICH in these circumstances was no more an option. However we 
are still looking towards the government and PTA to take necessary steps
 in reducing grey traffic.”<br />

It is worth mentioning that over 90% of international incoming 
traffic is terminated on cellular mobile operators’ networks. This 
termination after ICH’s implementation has been reduced by more than 75%
 on average for all operators and has subsequently led to plummeting 
revenues.<br />

After the implementation of ICH the overall international incoming 
traffic has reduced from 1.8 billion minutes to less than 500 million 
minutes per month while the corresponding mobile termination revenue on 
incoming international traffic has therefore drastically declined from 
PKR 1.6 billion to PKR 450 million per month.</div>

Breaking: Telenor Exits ICH

As expected, Telenor today announced publicly that it has exited ICH or International Clearing House from January 25th, 2014, after whic...

7:25:00 AM

Mobilink Bags Award for Paying Highest Tax

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QbPa97rLIc0/Uum01NclZQI/AAAAAAAAFLc/Tge3TRsIBWA/s1600/Mobilink_Heighest_Tax_Payer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QbPa97rLIc0/Uum01NclZQI/AAAAAAAAFLc/Tge3TRsIBWA/s1600/Mobilink_Heighest_Tax_Payer.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div class="wp-caption-text">
<span style="color: blue;">Mobilink Team with Imtiaz Ahmad Khan 
Collector of Customs, Islamabad (2nd from left) after receiving the 
‘Highest Tax Payer’ award on International Customs Day</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Mobilink has received the Highest Tax Payer Award by the Pakistan Customs, Islamabad Directorate.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Mobilink received the award in recognition making the highest 
contribution to the national exchequer through the Islamabad Directorate
 and fulfilling the Customs Laws and Regulations.</div>
<div class="adsxpls" id="adsxpls1" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 0px; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
The award was given in a ceremony on the occasion of “International Customs Day” held at Islamabad Dry Port.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
The ceremony was attended by Dr. Manzur Ahmad, Ex-Member Customs as 
the chief guest. Muhammad Usman Qureshi, Head of Logistics, Mobilink 
upon receiving the award from Dr. Ahmad said, “Mobilink believes in 
carrying out business practices with maximum integrity and transparency 
which is why more than 37 million Pakistanis trust Mobilink with their 
communication needs. The award is reflective of our commitment to 
Pakistan and an endorsement of our ethical business practices.’’</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Mobilink has paid approximately PKR 1.159 Billion in shape of Custom 
Duty, Sales Tax and Income Tax in the year of 2013. These Duties and 
Taxes have been paid for importing trade and non-trade items such as 
Cellular Infrastructure Equipment, SIM, Scratch Card, Handsets and other
 hardware. Mobilink carries out its trade activities through the airport
 and seaport in Karachi as well as through Lahore and Islamabad airport.</div>
<div class="wp-caption-text" style="text-align: left;">
The International Customs Day commemorates the inaugural session of 
the Customs Cooperation Council (CCC) in Brussels, Belgium in 1953. The 
International Customs Day is instituted by the World Customs 
Organization (WCO) and is held every year on January 26.<span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
</div>

Mobilink Bags Award for Paying Highest Tax

Mobilink Team with Imtiaz Ahmad Khan Collector of Customs, Islamabad (2nd from left) after receiving the ‘Highest Tax Payer’ award on...

7:12:00 AM

Warid Donates Blood For Thalassaemia Patients

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aQek9pgABvg/Uum0duQsGFI/AAAAAAAAFLU/v-R94PI-f28/s1600/Warid+Donates+Blood+for+Thalassaemia+Patients.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="281" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aQek9pgABvg/Uum0duQsGFI/AAAAAAAAFLU/v-R94PI-f28/s1600/Warid+Donates+Blood+for+Thalassaemia+Patients.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Being a responsible corporate organization, Warid Telecom arranged 2<sup>nd</sup> blood camp for poor Thalassaemia patients in collaboration with Sundas Foundation.<br />

Due to extreme weather conditions the requirement of more oxygen, 
glucose and nutrients forces additional blood transfusion while there is
 shortage of healthy blood supply.<br />

Children suffering from thalassemia are desperately looking for healthy donors to come up and help save their lives.<br />
<div class="adsxpls" id="adsxpls1" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
</div>
In two days camp Warid employees donated 43 blood bags to the children suffering from this horrifying disease.<br />

Chairman Sundas Foundation, Munnoo Bhai, Directors Suhail Warraich, 
Director Sohail Ahmed Azizi, President Mohammad Yaseen Khan, 
Administrator Colonel Waseem and Director Blood Donation Services Major 
Tariq, Children suffering from Thalassaemia and their Parents pay 
gratitude to the d<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_GoBack"></a>onors who despite of extreme cold weather voluntarily donated their blood to enhance life of the children needing it most.<br />

Warid has also launched a service through which volunteers can 
register as a Voluntary Blood Donor on Warid’s Blood Bank Service by 
sending ‘BLOOD’ in an SMS to 2525.<br />

It enables users to search for required blood group in a particular 
city by matching it with a database of registered donors for that city. 
For more information customers can visit <a href="http://www.waridtel.com/products/blood_bank.php" target="_blank">http://www.waridtel.com/products/blood_bank.php</a></div>

Warid Donates Blood For Thalassaemia Patients

Being a responsible corporate organization, Warid Telecom arranged 2 nd blood camp for poor Thalassaemia patients in collaboration with ...

7:10:00 AM

Pakistan Soon to Get DTH Services

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Jb4YLgOazQc/Uum0D49MGQI/AAAAAAAAFLM/C3P-iobLkig/s1600/Pakistan+Soon+to+Get+DTH+Services.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Jb4YLgOazQc/Uum0D49MGQI/AAAAAAAAFLM/C3P-iobLkig/s1600/Pakistan+Soon+to+Get+DTH+Services.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<strong>By Saman Asif</strong><br />

DTH or Direct-to-home TV system is usually perceived as an expensive 
solution and majority hold the view that cable TV is not going to get 
replaced by DTH due to its cost-effectiveness.<br />

Even PEMRA believes that DTH might not entirely replace cable TV, even in the long run.<br />

PEMRA’s spokesperson, while commenting on the situation, said “The 
fact that DTH will come to Pakistan does not mean cable system will be 
demolished from grass root levels. Both services will be employed 
simultaneously by users”.<br />

DTH, on the other hands, obviously offers the advantage of superior 
quality and hence quality conscious people would immediacy opt for DTH.<br />

Not to mention, audio and visual quality provided by DTH is 
unbelievably commendable. Each colour, graphic and sound is enhanced. 
While we aren’t sure about the adaption rate as of now, but surely DTH 
technology awareness will spread from classes to the masses during the 
time to come.<br />

Talking about adaption is probably too early right now as many of us 
are even not sure about when DTH is actually going to surface in 
Pakistan.<br />
<div class="adsxpls" id="adsxpls1" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
</div>
If you can recall, PEMRA had very proudly announced the issuance of 
two licenses for DTH to Cross Currents (Pvt) Limited and ARY 
communication back in December 2003.<br />

Both the groups, however, shelved the projects as everything was put to hold.<br />

But now, news from various authentic sources have confirmed that only
 numbered weeks are left to finally welcome the most advanced and 
breakthrough TV broadcast technology in Pakistan.<br />

The time left to experience Pakistani DTS is inversely proportional 
to the number of consumers of illegal Indian Dish TV in Pakistan.<br />

Just in case if you don’t know, people across Pakistan have purchased
 illegal STBs (Set-Top-Box ). Each month they are paying at least Rs. 
1,000 and the one time installation is costing them Rs. 7,000-8,000.<br />

These Indian DTH services offer a total of 99 channels, out of which 
almost 50 are foreign news channels, while 35 others are regional Indian
 channels. Only 15 channels are what Pakistanis get against such hefty 
investments.<br />

This whole illegal Indian Dish TV market translates into $150 Million
 for Indian DTH service providers without any tax deduction.<br />

Its up to PEMRA now that they make the DTH a reality in Pakistani 
market with local operators to earn all this money with proper taxing to
 aid our national exchequer.<br />

So if you are an avid TV viewer who won’t compromise on quality then 
your wait isn’t going to be long enough. Instead of investing into 
illegal Indian Dish TV solutions, just wait a little, as Pakistan DTH 
operators are going to serve you very soon.</div>

Pakistan Soon to Get DTH Services

By Saman Asif DTH or Direct-to-home TV system is usually perceived as an expensive solution and majority hold the view that cable TV i...

7:09:00 AM

Telenor Signs Pact for Wider Coverage of Polio Vaccination

Telenor Signs Pact for Wider Coverage of Polio Vaccination

Aimed at facilitating electronic monitoring system for wider coverage of polio vaccination through mobile communication technology, Tele...

7:07:00 AM

Mobilink Rotates its Top Management

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-w2xmz1vobUA/UuZx8Z_nDDI/AAAAAAAAFK0/apwxdAnDBZw/s1600/Mobilink+rotates+its+top+management.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-w2xmz1vobUA/UuZx8Z_nDDI/AAAAAAAAFK0/apwxdAnDBZw/s1600/Mobilink+rotates+its+top+management.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Mobilink today announced key restructuring and portfolio changes with-in its top management, we have confirmed.<br />

According to information we have got, Customer Care department is now
 consolidated under Commercial, which Mobilink thinks will help achieve 
quicker and more effective end to end execution.<br />

Sales and Distribution is being split with an aim to get better sales
 and higher revenues with dedicated focus, depth and execution power.<br />

Vice Presidents for Marketing, Sales, Distributions, Business Analysis and Planning and Customer Care have been changed.<br />

To start with Mr. Wasif Mustafa has replaced Farid Ahmed to head the Marketing department.<br />

Wasif has previously served Mobilink as head of Marketing Strategy 
& Pricing. Later on he remained Director for VAS, Distribution &
 Sales Planning and Analysis. Wasif’s recent most assignment was with 
VimpelCom where he was serving as Chief Commercial Officer.<br />
<div class="adsxpls" id="adsxpls1" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
</div>
Irfan Akram – who is currently the head of Customer Care – is given 
back the Sales. He has previously remained the head of sales before 
Jahanzeb Taj replaced him in March 2009.<br />

Farid Ahmad is now given the Headship of Business Analysis and Planning.<br />

Customer Care will go to Muhammad Arshad, who is currently head of 
Customer Care at Banglalink, VimpelCom’s arm in Bangladesh. Till 
Arshad’s arrival, Fareed Bajwa will remain the interim head of CS.<br />

Muhammad Farrukh Umair will become the Head of Distribution.<br />

All of these positions would report directly to Bilal Sheikh, Chief Commercial Officer.<br />

We have heard that Wasif is an aggressive player, who is likely to bring solid action in Mobilink’s upcoming campaigns.<br />

All these changes look promising from here, especially when market is
 saturating and 3G is just around the corner. Clearly the focus is on 
aggressive marketing with more muscle put together for sales and 
distribution.</div>

Mobilink Rotates its Top Management

Mobilink today announced key restructuring and portfolio changes with-in its top management, we have confirmed. According to informatio...

7:50:00 PM

Subscribe to: Posts ( Atom )