The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has issued proposals that would increase its capacity to regulate operator tariffs.
As reported by TeleGeography, the draft proposals require operators deemed to hold “significant market power” (SMP) to submit their proposed pricing plans to the PTA. The regulator would then have the ability to approve, amend or reject the proposals if the tariffs were deemed anti-competitive or “burdensome”.
This definition would apply to any tariffs that the PTA identified as being unaffordable for their intended market, or as returning “abnormally high” profits for the licensee.
In addition to the proposed review system, the PTA’s draft regulations would also enable it to set the minimum and maximum rates for basic services as well as granting it more power to regulate misleading advertisements, safeguarding consumer interests. Stakeholders are able to provide feedback on the proposals before 24th February.
