|
Internet service
providers, Telecommunication Authority settle royalty
issue |
|
NASIR SIDDIQUI |
.......KARACHI : The Internet
Service Providers (ISPs) royalty issue with the Pakistan
Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has been resolved at a meeting
between the members of Ispak and the Chairman of PTA, Major-General
Khalid Bashir. During the meeting held in Karachi on Friday
Major-General Khalid Bashir agreed that the ISPs would pay a royalty
at a rate of 1.5 per cent instead of 4 per cent of the their gross
revenue and that the other PTA charges in the head of bandwidth
would be deducted from the said percentage of royalty given by the
ISPs to the PTA.
.......Earlier the
ISPs, besides paying royalty to the PTA, were paying other
telecommunication charges separately to the PTA.
.......The PTA Chairman assured the Ispak
members that a notification in this regard would soon be
issued.
.......Meanwhile, the
President of Ispak Sanaullah Bhutta, while talking to Business
Recorder on Saturday on the successful negotiations with the
PTA Chairman, said that it was a bold decision taken by the PTA
which would go a long way in further promoting information
technology in the country. The ISPs operating in the country, in
fact, were quite relieved with the outcome of the meeting between
ISPs and the PTA Chairman, he added.
.......Bhutta further said that royalty would
be levied on the licensed-based services. The renewal fees will be
levied on 20 percent of the prevailing license fee and the ISP may
adjust if it has already paid the extra fee for licence.
.......He directed the members of Ispak to
provide the information regarding VSAT to PTA up to June 30, and
that if any one failed to supply the said information and was found
using VSAT, the ISP will be considered guilty and would be treated
according to law.
.......Copyright
2001 Business Recorder
(http://www.brecorder.com) |
 | |
