PTCL to earn Rs 500m more per year through PCS
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited would generate additional revenue of Rs 500 million per year through Prepaid Card Service (PCS), being introduced on March 25 throughout the country.
This was stated by PTCL Chairman Naseem S. Mirza while addressing a joint news conference with Mumtaz Syed, Chief Executive of “World Call Limited” here on Wednesday.
Mirza said Pakistan is one of the first countries in South Asia to introduce the PCS for international calls by all fixed digital telephone lines. With the introduction of this service the general public will have the instant access to dial the outside world, a feature which was available only on ISD telephone.
He said the PCS under title “Hello” is being introduced by the PTCL and World Call in association with Unitel Communications Limited UK.
The uniqueness of the service has also generated interest from foreign investors for investment in Pakistan. The UAE based investors have invested 25 percent equity in World Call.
He said Rs 104 million has been invested by World Call including foreign investment of Rs 15 million.
Mirza said the PCS is 5 percent costlier than the rates of the PTCL. However the service provides a substitute for international dialing in the form of easy accessibility, economy and convenience. The customers would be able to better manage their telephone bills.
With ‘Hello’, the charge would be in multiple of 20 seconds pulses. The card would not be used for making local calls and NWD calls.
He, however, said the PTCL would provide same facility on non-STD fixed phones by the end of September. The customers would be able to access NWD calls from non-STD digital fixed phones through card, he added.
Mumtaz Syed of World Call, said “Hello” would be available at all major retail outlets. The card would be priced at Rs 250, Rs 500, Rs 1,000 respectively. The price is inclusive of all the PTCL charges and government taxes.
The caller would be prompted by the computer to enter the unique personal identification code written on the card for verification of account. The call would be uninterrupted until the value of the card is used up. The customers neither pays for a fixed three minutes call nor needs to wait for booked call to come through, he added.
He said 90 percent overseas calls are being made through operator because only 55,000 ISD connections are working in the country.
Source: Business Recorder
Date:3/25/1999
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