Internet rates reduced upto 20 per cent
LAHORE – The Internet Services Providers (ISP) have reduced the internet rates upto 20 percent despite the fact that the PTCL has further reduced its IP bandwidth tariff of 30 percent.
Talking to The Nation the ISP owners said that the reduction in PTCL rates would directly benefit the Internet services (ISP’s), data network operators (DNOPs) and the call centre industry in Pakistan in order to facilitate and support the government’s policy for the proliferation of IT throughout the country,
Basit Alvi, the chief operation officer Brain Net, said that they had reduced the rates around 50 percent way earlier than the PTCL had announced cutting in the rates. He said that they were further enhancing their facilities to their subscribers being the pioneers of Internet services in Pakistan.
The other internet services providers said that the PTCL on Tuesday had slashed the rates for IP bandwidth from the existing level of $ 1,600 per E1 per month to $ 1,000 per E1 per month (a reduction of 37pc). The new rate for cities and locations other than Karachi has been set at $ 1,200 per E1 per month (a reduction of 25pc). Along with the drop in IP bandwidth charges, the copper loop charge for DSL service providers has also been reduced from the current level of Rs 217 per month to Rs 150 per month (a reduction of 30pc). The reduced charges are applicable from July 1.
The new rates would help lowering the cost of ICT services and enable the provision of more affordable solutions for not only consumers but also stimulate the growth of industries such as call centres and IT solution providers.
They said that the initiative would also go a long way in realizing the president’s and the PM’s vision of a connected Pakistan and in bolstering the IT Ministry initiatives for bringing the benefits of IT to the population at large. With these reductions, the IP bandwidth rates in Pakistan are among the most competitive compared to other countries in the region.
Source: The Nation
Date:7/13/2007
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