MUZAFFARABAD, April 12: Operators of a telecommunication network in Azad Kashmir, Special Communications Organization, launched the sale of mobile phone connections here on Monday.

Contrary to the media hype created prior to the launch of the service, subscribers were disappointed to learn that full coverage would not be available even in the whole of the Muzaffarabad district. It would also not provide coverage in areas beyond the territorial limits of the Azad Kashmir, officials said.

"Initially, it (the mobile phone service) would a local mobile phone system and it will not cover areas beyond Kohala," an SCO official told this correspondent. Kohala connects Azad Kashmir with Pakistan and also marks the boundary between Muzaffarabad and Bagh districts.

The official seemed to be unaware about how long it would take to extend their coverage to Rawalpindi and Islamabad which AJK government officials frequently visit and where several of them have also set up their 'camp offices.' SCO sources said three transmission towers had been installed in Muzaffarabad, providing a line-of-sight communication in a 15- kilometre wide area.

In Muzaffarabad district, which constitutes 46 per cent of the total area of Azad Kashmir, the mobile phone service would not be available in the Neelum Valley in the Northeast, Leepa Valley in the Southeast and areas beyond Hattian Bala in the South, sources said.

An army official said that a connection obtained in Muzaffarabad would operate in the southern Mirpur district and vice versa "without any roaming charges."

These mobile connections would only have a pre-paid calling system and the tariff would later be announced, he said. SCO enjoys a monopoly in the AJK despite criticism by local people, who say that the Azad Kashmir telecom sector should be opened up for Pakistani entrepreneurs.

The people contend that competition between different service providers would cheaper and more efficient service to subscribers. SCO's media adviser Murtaza Durrani said that around 250 persons were obtaining application forms on production of computerized identity cards on Monday.

Of the total 5,000 mobile connections, the SCO have reserved 3,300 for the Muzaffarabad area while the rest of the connections would be spread over the rest for Mirpur. Mr Durrani said connections would be issued from April 26 after the formal launching of the service.

Interestingly, when asked if the new system had been tested, two SCO officials, replied in the negative. "Testing will be carried out later. Currently, we are just receiving connection forms," they said.