August 22, 2007

PTA will impart training on MNP to other countries: Chairman PTA

PTA will impart training on MNP to other countries: Chairman PTA

chairman pta addressing the opening session of three day workshop

group photo of participants of workshop

 

Islamabad: Chairman Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) Major Gen (Retd) Shahzada Alam Malik has said that it is an honor for Pakistan to be selected by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) to provide training to other countries who wish to implement Mobile Number Portability (MNP) in their respective countries. Pakistan would provide support to those countries. He said this while addressing the opening session of three-day Workshop on â??Implementing MNPâ? organized by PTA under the aegis of ITU Centre of Excellence Network.

He said that this Workshop has provided the Pakistani Regulator an excellent opportunity to share its experiences and expertise in the implementation of MNP. It would be willing to send its experts to the regional countries to help them implement MNP.

Chairman PTA further said that more than 100,000 cellular mobile subscribers have availed the service of MNP in the country since the service started five months ago. He said that Pakistan is one of the first country in the region to have provided the services of MNP to its 64 millionmobile subscribers.

He said the service is aimed at strengthening further healthy competition in the market and to improve the quality of service of the countryâ??s rapidly growing cellular mobile sector. Appreciating the cooperation extended by the countryâ??s mobile companies towards the implementation of MNP in the country. He said the service has been launched in Pakistan with a cost of around 150 million dollars.

It may be mentioned that MNP enables any mobile subscriber to switch to any mobile service provider while retaining their original mobile number.

On the occasion, Member Telecom, Ministry of IT & Telecom, Mr. Nooruddin Baqai said, establishment of ITUâ??s Centre of Excellence Node in Pakistan is recognition of the countryâ??s sound economic liberalization policies and the unprecedented growth that has been witnessed in the countryâ??s telecom sector. He said MNP has empowered the mobile subscribers and they enjoy their right to choose any mobile service provider while retaining their numbers.

On this occasion, Head ITU Regional Office for Asia Pacific, Dr. Eum-ju Kim said in a message that this Workshop on â??Implementing MNPâ? is an excellent example of PTAâ??s willingness to share the experiences gathered and lessons learnt while implementing it in Pakistan. The resources available and the wide experience of PTA in this area is an asset to the program. Member (Technical) PTA, Dr. Muhammad Yaseen, in his presentation, explained the process of implementation of MNP in Pakistan.

It may be noted that around 45 participants from 15 countries including USA, UK, Malaysia, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India, Oman are attending the Workshop. Renowned experts would make presentations during the three-day Workshop.

 

Khurram Ali Mehran

Deputy Director (PR)

chairman pta and minister IT