Islamabad (August 26, 2008): Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) will start automated blocking of Internet Protocol Addresses (IPs), involved in illegal termination/origination of international traffic, in a bid to check grey traffic flowing into country.  The facility will be operational within next few days.

This was announced by Dr. Muhammad Yaseen, Chairman PTA in a meeting with CEOs of major Internet Service Providers (ISPs) of the country held at PTA Headquarters. He asked all ISPs to declare their IP addresses along-with the antecedents of their customers so that illegal telecom traffic could be monitored.

It was emphasized that operators should oversee their customers to make sure they are not involved in grey traffic termination. He sought operatorsâ?? cooperation against menace of grey telephony. The ISPs appreciated recent steps taken by PTA including an announcement in the press wherein Call Centers were asked to provide their IP addresses to PSEB to ensure uninterrupted provisioning of services.

It is pertinent to mention that since the inception of technical facility in May 2008 at PTA, the IP addresses found to be involved in illegal activities were being blocked manually and in the process over 14 million minutes (worth around100 million rupees) have been saved on monthly basis. Now these would be automatically blocked if any IP, not authorized to carry voice, is found doing so. Under current policy, only LDIs and international Call Centers are authorized to carry voice across national boundaries.

 

Khurram Ali Mehran

Deputy Director (Public Relations)