PTA Clarifies News Regarding Increase in Rate of Internet and Call Packages

With reference to news articles on various online news outlets regarding mobile operators increasing the rate of internet and call packages with PTA’s consent, it is clarified that such assertions are unfounded and factually incorrect. PTA regulates tariffs of only dominant player (SMP) i.e. Jazz in Retail Mobile Telecommunication Market of Pakistan. While, non-SMP operators i.e. Telenor, Ufone and Zong are free to set up / revise their tariffs on the basis of their cost of doing businessand commercial considerations. It is further clarified that Telenor and Ufone have enhanced minimum amount of super load / easy load from Rs. 50 to Rs. 60, and Jazz & Zong from Rs. 50 to Rs. 70 contrary to the claims of “increase from Rs. 50 to Rs. 100”. This change has no impact on the prices of calls or data services / packages. With reference to assertions of the prices of data packages increasing from “Rs. 10 to Rs.25”, the actual price of some data packages has only increased in the range of Rs. 5 – 10for example, price of Ufone’s “weekly light bucket” has increased from Rs. 105 to Rs. 110only. Therefore, an impression given here of huge increase in prices of calls/data is deceptive. PTA is vigilant about the rates / tariffs being charged by mobile operators and ensures to protect interest of consumers.