The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has issued a stark warning to the Senate Standing Committee on IT and Telecommunication, cautioning that the country may face severe network disruptions if Long Distance International (LDI) licenses are not renewed swiftly. PTA officials highlighted the urgency of addressing this issue, stating that failure to do so could impact vital telecommunications infrastructure and daily operations.
PTA Warns Senate of Severe Network Disruptions
During a committee meeting chaired by Senator Palwasha Mohammad Zai Khan, PTA emphasized the critical nature of renewing LDI licenses. Several LDI companies, including players like Wateen, have licenses that expired between July and August 2024. Wateen, which operates a major fiber optic network across 24 cities, including Balochistan and Sindh, remains operational due to a court-issued stay order. Despite five LDI companies showing willingness to pay their dues, others have sought legal recourse, leaving the issue unresolved.
Call for Urgent Action
PTA expressed concern that if these companies’ licenses are not renewed soon, the national telecom infrastructure could suffer serious setbacks. PTA officials informed the committee that PTCL alone cannot handle the network load, leading to delays in restoring services in case of a shutdown. The committee urged the federal government to establish a clear policy to expedite license renewals and avoid further legal complications; they also recommended that PTA strengthen its legal team to address court delays and ensure smoother operations in the telecom sector.
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