Archive for June 28th, 2008

PTCL Increases Leased Line Charges By 450%. Why?

Published by Babar Bhatti on June 28, 2008 under Broadband Internet, Consumer Rights, Infrastructure, PTCL, Telecommunications

I could not believe this when I saw it at Telecom Grid Pakistan, where an active discussion is brewing about this one-sided irrational decision. This reminds of the monopolistic telecom policies from a few years ago - are we sliding back to that drak era? Quoting Tariq’s email to Pakistan ICT Policy group:

PTCL used to have one tariff for leased circuits for 0-200 km range. Now, they have chopped it down four categories 0-50, 51-100, 101-150 and 151-200. The lower distances have the highest tariff hike. Hence, essentially, PTCL has hit the competition where it hurts the most - shorter circuits that make the nitty gritty of the competitions’ network. The competion - Mobilink, Wateen, Multinet - who have shining new long distance networks,  these shorter circuits were still the missing pieces and till now they were making sense to get from PTCL where their own networks were not available. With this hike, PTCL has essentially taken away the most essentially elements of these long haul networks putting at risk the entire canvas of rudundant, new age fiber network put up by the new competition.