Government May Move USF Money to Federal Consolidated Fund: ProPakistani

Government May Move USF Money to Federal Consolidated Fund
Vfone Non-Stop Package
Imran Khan Introduces SMS Based Updates for His Party Members
Samsung Android Phones Sales Beat Apple and Nokia
Pakistan’s ICT Authorities Function Transparently and Smoothly: Lirneasia

Government May Move USF Money to Federal Consolidated Fund

Posted: 25 Jul 2011 06:06 AM PDT

Government of Pakistan is in process of consulting the concerned stakeholders to move the funds lying under the head of Universal Service Fund and Research & Development Fund to Federal Consolidated Fund, told us sources close to the development.

If approved by the government, over 40 billion rupees will be moved from commercial banks to Federal Consolidated Fund.

Unlike recent media reports, industry sources told ProPakistani that government has just discussed the possibilities of moving the money from banks to Federal Consolidated Fund, which means that government will just hold the unused money but USF or R&D will be able to withdraw it whenever they need to.

'The News' earlier reported that funds of USF and R&D Fund will be spent for Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP).

Negating the media reports, Parvez Iftikhar, CEO Universal Service Fund, confirmed me that government has discussed the possible proposition of moving USF fund to Federal Consolidated Fund, but nothing has been decided in this regard so far. He wasn't aware of any chances of utilization of this fund for Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP).

Officials of cellular companies in their talks with me termed it an impossible thing to happen. They said that cellular companies contribute 1.5 percent of their annual revenues to USF and R&D Fund, i.e. for the development of telecom and technology in the country.

"We contribute money for a purpose which is defined by the act (Telecom Act 1996), there's no way anyone can use it for any other purpose", said a high level official of a cellular company.

It merits mentioning here Telecom Act of Pakistan has defined USF and R&D to get 1.5 percent share of annual revenues of all telecom operators. Hence, Rs. 40 billion has been deposited under the account so far, out of which Rs. 10-11 billion has been disbursed till date, while another Rs. 7-8 billion is allocated for several ongoing development projects.

Analysts are fearing that that if Government approves the move, this will lengthen the process of fund disbursement due to necessary procedures involved in the process.

They said that government will be able to use the funds for their functional needs, and may delay the disbursement during the times when government treasury is on low.

Vfone Non-Stop Package

Posted: 25 Jul 2011 04:16 AM PDT

PTCL has introduced Vfone non-stop package which allows you to make unlimited call to any on-net number at an expense of Rs. 1+ tax.

All on-net calls will be charged Rs. 1 + tax (Rs. 1.31 including tax) at the time of dialling. These ‘call set-up charges’ will be applicable every time you dial any Vfone or PTCL number. After this calls will be truly unlimited without any duration limit.

Other package details are as follows:

Vfone to Vfone: Rs. 1 plus tax per call
Vfone to PTCL: Rs. 1 plus tax per call
Vfone to Mobile & other LLOs: Rs. 1.30 per min
Vfone Internet: Rs. 2.00 per 15 min
SMS to all networks: Rs. 0.30 per SMS

Daily Line Rent:

Note that this package has a daily line rent of Rs. 10 + tax as well. (comes out to be Rs. 13.15 including tax)

Terms & Conditions:

Existing customers can dial 1015(3) to change their package
First package change is free for all customers
All rates are exclusive of taxes

To read more, click: Vfone Non-Stop Package
ProPakistani.PK

Imran Khan Introduces SMS Based Updates for His Party Members

Posted: 25 Jul 2011 03:09 AM PDT

PTISMS Imran Khan Introduces SMS Based Updates for His Party Members

Imran Khan has introduced a new kind of SMS based update system for his party members, i.e. one of most used medium by Pakistanis.

This initiative by PTI media management team will help party members/followers to get updates about Pakistan Tehreek Insaaf via SMS on their mobile, that too free of charge.

Party statement said that apart from party related announcements and updates, different polls will be conducted among members and Chairman Imran Khan, himself, will address members via SMS once in a while.

Service was announced in a recent Jalsa at Faisalabad which estimated to gather more than 50,000 people.

How to Subscribe:

To subscribe, send an SMS including your Name and City to 80022

Note that this a free of cost service and no subscription charges at all (as claimed by PTI)

Samsung Android Phones Sales Beat Apple and Nokia

Posted: 25 Jul 2011 01:52 AM PDT

Samsung Electronics & Co. is said to have surpassed Nokia and Apple in terms of handset sales, in the recent quarter.

It is estimated that Samsung has sold upto 21 million smartphones in the said period whereas Apple is lagging with 20.3 million iPhone sales. Nokia seems to be left far behind with 16.7 million sales, a researcher at analyst company said.

Samsung which is considered as second largest handset maker in the industry got this boost from Google's miracle – Android. Topping the list, Samsung's galaxy phones are helping it a lot in giving a tough competition to its rival, Apple.

It is expected that Samsung will share the market with industry's largest handset maker – Nokia, this year. Samsung will have an approximate market share of 20%, closing the gap with Nokia's 26%.

On the other hand, Apple is still able to give competition with its iPhone 5 (or iPhone 4S may be) which is expected to be released, later this year.

While Samsung Galaxy S II has already made its mark by having more than 3 million sales in less than two months after it’s launch. Keeping in view these figures, Samsung already has sold 30+ Galaxy S II phone per minute, worldwide.

It merits mentioning here that Samsung is expected to double its handset sales (including those which are not smartphone) by this year.

For further reading

Pakistan’s ICT Authorities Function Transparently and Smoothly: Lirneasia

Posted: 24 Jul 2011 10:30 PM PDT

Pakistan's telecom authorities and their functions are transparent, focused and operator's friendly to spread information and communication technologies in the country, Lirenasia reported.

Pakistan handled the license renewal cleanly, eliminating uncertainty for the operators and realising enormous revenues for the exchequer, the regional telecom think tank reported while pointing out the regulatory framework and performance of Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA).

Pakistan conducted transparent auctions. Its USF (Universal Service Fund) company has succeeded in disbursing around 90 per cent of the fund without favouring any operator, and supporting green technology as a bonus.

Lirneasia compared Pakistan with India, saying that India's policy framework was inferior to that of Pakistan. It was a, patched together, series of compromises among various interest groups, especially those entrenched within BSNL/MTNL – the two telecom operators of India.

The country is entering to address the first licence renewals without a clearly stated principle in place as a matter of fact that it has vacillated and sown the bitter harvest.

India's Department of Telecommunications collects too much money in universal service levies, gave most of the money, especially in the early years, to BSNL, and is now unable to get rid of billions, Lirenasia said.

India Overtakes Pakistan in mobile SIMs/100:

Since 2004, India has been behind Pakistan on a key indicator, that is tele-density or mobile SIMs/100. Now finally, India has surpassed Pakistan in the region, with the country having highest teledensity.

SIMS 100 Pakistan's ICT Authorities Function Transparently and Smoothly: Lirneasia

The loss of momentum for Pakistan started in 2008, whereas India was again ahead by 2011, report said.

Pakistan tele-density remained highest among the countries of South Asia till January 2011. The modest annual growth continued in the last couple of years despite strict corrective measures and cut-throat competition. But here the stats have shown a slow-down in telecommunication industry’s expansion.

It teledensity reached 66.8 percent by February 2011 but could not maintain its growth pace and status of highest teledensity of the region.

India’s teledensity reached 68.4 percent with total number of users stood at 826.25 million in February 2011, Telecom Authority of India (TRAI) figures showed.

Now, the number of telephone subscribers in India have increased to 846.32 million at the end of March 2011 with status of highest teledensity among SAARC countries.

The Indian teledensity witnessed more than 2 percent growth on monthly basis whereas Pakistan teledensity grew with the less than once percent in past six months.

India is pulling ahead because it is fundamentally a consultative, democratic government. The democracy cannot produce the clockwork efficiency that a well-functioning dictatorship can; but neither will it produce quasi-democratic dysfunction that follows the rare, brief interludes of efficient authoritarianism, the think tank added.

The teledensity of Bangladesh stood at 45 percent with 71.5 million cellular phone users and 1028 thousands PSTN customers as per Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulation Commission.