TV, Internet, telephony to be availed on single line
PTCL awards Internet Protocol TV license
By Ali Imran

ISLAMABAD—Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) Thursday awarded the first-ever Internet Protocol TV (IPTV) license to Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL).
The TV, Internet and telephony could now be availed on single line. The IPTV, being built on digital platform, will offer much superior service quality to subscribers as compared to the traditional cable system.
This technology will offer choice to the viewers to select bouquet of selected programmes of their choice through Conditional Access System (CAS), in addition to parental control, Pay TV, Video on Demand, high speed data and telephony. In a licesne awarding ceremony held here, Chairman PEMRA Iftikhar Rashid termed it a milestone in the history of broadcast arena of the country.
Mohamed Abdulla Ali Bamakharama, the President/CEO of PTCL received the license. Chairman PEMRA said it is hallmark achievement of PEMRA that a developing country like Pakistan is emerging at par with the developed nations of the world in terms of electronic media progress.
He said out of 49 countries at Asia Pacific region only four nations have so far launched this technology. The Chairman expressed the hope PTCL would soon commence this latest technology in Pakistan.
Explaining about this technology, Chairman PEMRA said IPTV is the latest, state of the art technology being rapidly adopted in the developed countries enabling the users/subscribers to enjoy triple play through one mode using an IP network. Mr. Rashid said last two years are evident of PEMRA's contribution towards broadcast sector in Pakistan. Besides issuing about 1400 cable TV, 87 FM radio, (other 78 are under issue), 18 satellite TV, 26 licenses for landing rights to foreign TV channels, 5 MMDS, 2 DTH licenses, IPTV is now another turn to offer wide variety and quality of broadcast media to viewers.
He said PEMRA pursuant to its mandate is endeavored to penetrate electronic media to nooks and corners of society to have access of common man to healthy information, entertainment and education through varied broadcast mediums. He expressed his resolve to encourage and facilitate the prospective entrants in this domain.
He hoped with the liberal and accommodative PEMRA policies thisgrowth pace will sure to gain greater acceleration in the days ahead. Other senior officials of PEMRA and PTCL were also present at the ceremony.