Engineering Post Report
With the aim to curtail the counterfeit mobile phone market, deter mobile phones theft and to protect consumer interest in line with the duly approved Telecom Policy 2015 issued by the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunications, Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has developed and established a “Device Identification Registration and Blocking System (DIRBS) “ in collaboration with all Cellular Mobile Operators.
DIRBS acts as a central system and database for all network operators to share and synchronize information about black listed mobile devices to deny operations to such unauthorized devices on any network.
Additionally, the system also enables a unique opportunity to eliminate smuggling of new and used mobile phones as only white listed devices i.e. those with valid IMEIs formally cleared by the PTA/Customs will be allowed to operate on the network henceforth .
The federal government has and is the process of taking number of interventions for proving Telecommunication Sector in the country and to safeguard interests of the genuine stakeholders and users.
Cyber Governance Policy is in the process of formulation and all stakeholders have been taken on board for ensuring its representative , effective and feasible in all respects.
Furthermore, a comprehensive draft Spectrum Plan and Strategy has been prepared in close collaboration of the stakeholders including Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication, FAB and PTA and spectrum veterans. The draft was accordingly improved during the year and is currently reported to be in the approval process at the appropriate level.
According to the information available from official sources concerned in the federal capital, the Universal services Fund Company (USF Co)has also after determination of under-served areas for , launched projects to provide telecommunication coverage to approximately 12000 unserved Mauzas with an estimated population of around 15 million across all provinces of Pakistan. In these areas, provision of telecom services were not commercially viable for Telecom Operators and without intervention from the USF Co, the general population would have remained deprived of telecom connectivity.
The new flagship programme of USF Co is the Next Generation Broadband for Sustainable Development (NG-BSD). This programme provides enhanced Broadband data rates ( 512 kbps) to Unserved and Underserved population of the country facing limited or no data coverage.
The Federal Cabinet has already approved the declaration of the following areas as Underserved for inclusion in USF”s Programme at the provision of Next Generation Broadband to a population of 30435725 in 11915 Under-Served Mauzas of Pakistan i.e. Pishin, Nasirabad, Mastung, Turbat, Sukkur, Dadu, Mirpurkhas, Larkana, Chitral, Dera Ghazi Khan, Bahawalpur, Bahawalnagar and Rahim Yar Khan.
