PTA discusses ban on voice chat channel today
KARACHI- Chairman Pakistan Telecommunications Authority (PTA) called a crucial meeting on 15th of October, 2002 to discuss recent ban on voice chat channel and its impact on the industry concerned after strong uproar from country’s internet service providers (ISPs).
The PTA last week closed down the Voice Chat Channel. It is pertinent to note that the PTA, telecom regulator in the country, has already banned Net2Phone facility for the Internet users. But now, sources said, that PTA’s decision to close down Voice Chat Channel has received strong reaction from the ISPs.
The sources informed that Internet Service Providers Association of Pakistan (ISPAK) has already lodged its protest with the Authority. There are 66 ISPs operating in the country out of total 152 licensed.
The ISPs also complained Federal Minister for Science and Technology who asked his advisor to look into the matter. The ISPs say the adviser has clearly said that the PTA had no authority to block, gag or shut down any site or cyber facility and since the PTA Chairman has called a meeting.
They say that federal minister also assured them that the establishment of Pakistan Internet Exchange (PIE) would not be a cause of Internet gagging. But contrary to their promise, Pakistan Telecommunications Company Limited (PTCL) has used this as a tool to first gag the website of Net2Phone and similar other websites, complained the ISPs.
They claim that though the Chairman PTA last month assured them the Authority would remove ban from Net2Phone in a week, they closed down the Voice Chat Channel Chat.
Source: The News
Date:10/15/2002
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