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[from Content update - ICT for Development on the Development Gateway]
Pakistan: Mobile Cellular Policy
*URL:*
http://www.pakistan.gov.pk/itandtelecom-division/informationandservices/mobilepolicy28012004.pdf
<http://www.developmentgateway.org/topic/redir?item_id=396955&url=http%3a%2f%2fwww%2epakistan%2egov%2epk%2fitandtelecom-division%2finformationandservices%2fmobilepolicy28012004%2epdf>
*Description:* The penetration of cellular telephony in Pakistan
increased significantly when the tariff scheme changed from Mobile Party
Pays to Calling Party Pays regime in year 2000, making it more
attractive to users. Despite that change and the positive growth of its
GDP (5 percent) over the last few years, currently the four mobile
operators provide services to only 3 million cellular subscribers (2
percent of the population). This Mobile Policy issued by the IT and
Telecommunication Division of the Ministry of Information Technology
(MoIT) on January 28, 2004 seeks to expand access to mobile telephony to
the population. Its main objectives include: (i) Promotion of efficient
use of radio spectrum; (ii) Increased choice for customers of cellular
mobile services at competitive and affordable prices; (iii) Attract
further private investment to the cellular mobile sector; (iv) Greater
recognition of the rights and obligations of mobile cellular operators;
(v) Fair competition amongst mobile and fixed line operators; (vi)
Effective and well defined regulatory regime that is consistent with
international best practices. The policy follows the De-Regulation
Policy for the Telecommunication Sector approved by the Cabinet on
January 10, 2004. 23 pages.