The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has refuted media claims suggesting that the expiration of long-distance international (LDI) licences could lead to the closure of automated teller machines (ATMs) and a telecom blackout in the country.
The LDI licences, which are crucial for managing international telecom call services, are set to expire between July and August 2024. The operators involved include Worldcall, Redtone, ADG-LDI, Telecard, Dancom, Wisecomm, Circlenet, Wateen, 4B-Gentel, and Multinet. Many of these operators have not settled their overdue payments for the Universal Service Fund (USF), totaling Rs24 billion.
Earlier media reports cited concerns from a PTA meeting on Friday, suggesting that the non-renewal of these licences could significantly impact service quality, business operations, and the broader economy. The PTA was said to have warned that mobile traffic, internet traffic, banking services, and corporate intranets could be affected, with a potential 40% of ATMs going out of service.
In response, the PTA has labeled these reports as “fake news,” clarifying that there is no current issue impacting the availability or operation of LDI networks, including ATMs. The PTA assured that the expired LDI licences have not been suspended or shut down.
The PTA’s denial comes amidst recent disruptions in internet services across Pakistan, which have led to complaints from users about slow speeds and issues with social media platforms. The Telecom Operators Association has called for Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s intervention to address these disruptions, which they estimate could cost the national economy up to Rs12 billion annually if not resolved promptly.
