PTA warns PTCL to improve service
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) is upset over the deteriorating quality of services provided by Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL), and is looking at different options including serving of a show-cause notice, Business Recorder has learnt. Sources said that a warning has already been issued to the company asking its management to improve the quality of services, which declined sharply instead of improving after privatisation. Seldom a caller gets response on making first call at 17 inquiry service while complaints about delayed fault clearance, excessive billing and high call failure rate are growing, they added.
The PTA did not rely only on subscribers’ complaints but confirmed through its own inspection that the complaints framed against PTCL quality of services were genuine. “We warned the PTCL of legal action if it failed to improve its quality of services,” it said. Sources said that such an extreme step on the part of the regulator would be the last option. The warning already given to PTCL would follow a show-cause notice, soon. It seems that the new PTCL management is not taking its (PTA’s) reports seriously. The Telecom Act provides the regulator to take legal action against any operators whose services are not at par with the set standard.
They said that the Authority is responsible for regulating the telecom sector under section 4(c) and 6(e) of the Pakistan Telecommunication (Re-organisation) Act, 1996 by promoting and protecting the interests of users by fair competition in the telecommunication sector. “Section 4(d) of the Act requires the Authority to promote the availability of wide range of high quality, efficient, cost-effective and competitive telecommunication services throughout Pakistan,” they added.
Source: B/Recorder
Date:12/16/2006
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