IT Ministry issues rationalized Payphone Policy

 ISLAMABAD—Ministry of Information Technology on Saturday announced a new rationalized policy to allow for setting up of public call offices (PCOs) across the technology platforms of all cellular, local loop (LL) and wireless local loop licensees.
The new policy is aimed at spurring growth and proliferation of telecoms access through a simplified mechanism of PCO/payphone service provision by all local loop operators, including cellular mobile and WLL licensees, said an official statement released by the ministry.
The statement listed main objectives of the policy as being achievement of a broader coverage, outreach and economic opportunity integrating it into the Rozgar Scheme launched by President Pervez Musharraf.
The policy makes available several community level business models based on PCO/payphone services which can be launched through the microfinance programme of National Bank of Pakistan and other commercial banks under the Rozgar scheme.
The statement added that similar business models had been successfully employed in several countries and the new policy would facilitate their adoption in Pakistan through promotion of community level entrepreneurship to improve the level of economic opportunities available to the rural population.
That statement noted that the need for rationalizing the payphone/PCO regime was felt due to the effective role the PCOs, especially those offered by cellular and WLL operators, could play in enhancing the access, outreach and employment opportunities.
The new policy establishes the right of mobile cellular operators and regional LL/WLL licensees to be treated on a par with nationwide integrated licensees such as PTCL, Special Communication Organization and NTC. They would henceforth be allowed to operate payphones/PCOs as a part of platform services without any additional fee or license either directly or through other distribution channels.
The policy clarifies only third parties wanting to offer services in collaboration with the licensed operators will be required to register for the class license issued by the PTA. The entities operating under the individual payphone licenses may continue to operate under the current regime until the expiry of their license or they may opt for a class license or become associated with any of the licensees.
The policy tasks the PTA to negotiate with banks and other institutions to facilitate provision of loans/credit lines without complexity and burdensome documentation. A broad and well-structured publicity campaign will also be undertaken to inform the public about the policy in the context of President’s Rozgar Scheme.
The statement said the new policy was expected to help bridge the access gap and enhance outreach of service to the un-served rural masses. The policy is also expected to provide improved economic opportunity by promoting self employment based on ownership of street and household level community PCOs under the microfinance facility of the Rozgar Scheme. The scheme shall benefit the rural consumers by providing them increased choice in payphones.