Zong officially launched Biometric System: Ufone All set to Implement

Zong officially launched Biometric System: Ufone All set to Implement. Zong, the Chinese cellular company in Pakistan, has officially launched Biometric system or SIM verification system today, at its two Customer Service Centers (CSC) in Karachi. Zong Telecom is the first carrier in Pakistan to implement the SIM verification system in the country while the rest of the cellular companies have a plan to launch it before the 20^th December, 2013.Zong will implement the biometric SIM verification system across the country at its service centres, franchises and sales outlets in coming days. Earlier, Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) given a deadline to all existing cellular operator in the country to implement biometric systems for the issuance of  mobile SIMs. All Telecom companies were given a time limit till 30^th November, 2013 for the implementation of the biometric SIMs verification system on their service centers in Karachi. At the implementation ceremony by Zong, the chairman of PTA Dr. Syed Ismail Shah was the first person to hands on the new Zong SIM using biometric SIM verification after cross verifying his thumb impression with NADRA’s data in real time. For buying a new SIM a customer will have to present his/her  Computerized National Identity Card (CNIC) at the selling outlets or Franchises. After that the customers have to record his/her thumb impression. The biometric system is linked with the NDRA’s data which will prove the customers' identity.
If the SIM purchaser’s identity means thumb impressions will match with NDRA’s data he/she will be able to grab the SIMs. While commenting at the launching ceremony PTA chairman said that the watchdog and cellular carriers in the country are making all potential efforts to get rid of the usage of unregistered SIMs. Presently, the cellular industry is going through just the verification of new SIMs sale, but later on all the operating SIMs also be verified, in order to completely get rid of the use of illegal SIMs in the country, he added.
On the other hand Ufone Telecom declared in a press release that the company is all set to deploy the Biometric System in Karachi till 30^thNovember, while the rest of the cities before 20^th December.

The rest of the Telecom operators including Mobilink,Telenor and Warid also confirmed the deployment of the system at the CSCbefore the deadline.
I truly appreciate the implementation of this new SIM verification system because in this way there is no possibility of illegal SIM issuance and no one will any more be able to buy SIMs on the fake ID cards.

3G Auction: Supreme Court Directs to appoint PTA Chairman in One Week

3G Auction: Supreme Court Directs to appoint PTA Chairman in One Week

The Supreme Court of Pakistan has directed the government to appoint the Chairman of Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) in One Week. The directive issued by the three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry of the Supreme Court on Wednesday. They gave the government one-week time limit to assign the head of Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA). The position of the Chairman PTA had been lying vacant since February and the bench said that the PTA was almost non-functional. The court questioned why was the PTA Chairman not assigned and observed that there should not be any further delay.

The order of the bench reads as:

“We direct the Secretary concerned to take up the issue immediately and discharge his function by appointing the chairman of the PTA without further loss of time.”

During the hearing on Chairman PTA Appointment the Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry asked about the auctionof 3G technology and said that without the chairman all the decisions taken up by the authority will not be legal.

Deputy Attorney General (DAG) for Pakistan Imran-UL-Haq told the court the government had already issued a schedule for bringing the 3G technology in the country.

DAG said that an acting chairman, Syed Ismail Shah ,had been appointed in the PTA, who would be removed after the appointment because the court reminded him that there was no concept of acting chairman under section 3 of the Pakistan Telecommunication Reorganisation Act 1996.

Syed Ismail Shah was appointed acting chairman under a notification issued on September 26, 2013. The court later adjourned the case for one week directing the government to appoint a permanent chairman at the earliest.

It's worth mentioned here that earlier Supreme Court of Pakistan has directed the government to appoint the members and chairman SCorders to appoint PTA Chairman PTA in 15 days of Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) in the next 15 days while keeping in view the rules and regulations of the institution. Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhary also ordered that the auction of 3G license must be done 15 days after the appointment of members and chairman of PTA.

Thus nothing come out. Now it is left to see what will happen next, will PTA appoint Chairman soon and the Pakistani nation will be able to relish the taste of 3G technology in coming months.

What's your opinion comment below:

Pakistan soon to have 3G technology: PTA forms policy for 3G auction

Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has decided to auction 3G license in the country, the decision came after the recent appointment of new PTA Chairman, Dr. Syed Ismail Shah. The government has set a draft of policy directive by suggesting entry of existing as well as new players, technology transfer, and other measures that will be presented before the advisory committee for approval within this week. The advisory committee headed by the Finance Minister Ishaq Dar including other representative and all stakeholders will approve the draft policy in order to move on 3G license auction, said Minister of State for Information Technology Anusha Rehman.

She said that after the formation of draft policy by information technology, the PTA would appoint internationally reputed consultants to move on the 3G auction. She said if the consultant would like to change in the draft policy the IT ministry will embrace it will open mind.

She said after the approval of draft policy the government will further proceed the 3G auction.

Anusha Rehamn while briefing to the media yesterday said that four telecom operators in the country show their grave concern in acquiring 3G licenses. She said it is hoped that beside local cellular operators the international carriers will also be the part of 3G auction.

The early efforts made in 2011-2012 from the auction of 3G license failed due to some hindrances that lead to a disappointment of Pakistani consumers, who have been intensely waiting for 3G networks to get better data connections over mobile phones for years. It is essential to mention here that the 3G process is moving ahead on the orders of the Supreme Court which had directed the government to appoint the PTA chairman within the 15 days and then the auction of 3G license in the next 15 days after the chairman appointment.

SC orders to appoint PTA Chairman in 15 days

Supreme Court of Pakistan has directed the government to appoint the members and chairman of Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) in the next 15 days while keeping in view the rules and regulations of the institution. Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhary also ordered that the auction of 3G license must be done 15 days after the appointment of members and chairman of PTA.
The chief justice said,

“The appointments should be made before proceeding with the 3G licence auction.”



While remarking on the auction of 3G license, he said it is the right of people of Pakistan to have an access to 3G technology and just because authority is not complete, telecommunication business is at standstill.

Three-member bench of the apex court headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry conducted hearing of the case regarding auction of 3G technology license when the petitioner’s counsel Wakil Ali Raza told the court that the Lahore High Court already has issued an interim order in this case, issuing a direction to the PTA Chairman for transparent appointments on merit.

Chief Justice remarked that the institution is facing loss of billion of rupees due to its inactivity, criminal negligence and grey traffic. He contended that transparent auction is possible only when the PTA performs on sound footings.

It was also observed that 165 applications have already been received for the posts of members and Chairman PTA. After getting appointed, Chairman PTA must appear before the court and update on the status and future of 3G licensing in Pakistan, CJ ordered.

The case has been adjourned till 16th September, 2013.READ MORE