ISLAMABAD, Nov 9: With a view to discouraging grey trafficking, Pakistan Telecom Authority (PTA) blocked last month more than 200,000 Internet Protocol (IP) addresses, 1, 382 mobile SIMs and 3,160 phones/devices.

For this the PTA evolved system known as International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) numbers in early October, The system has the capability to automatically block IPs, which are not in the PTA’s white list.

After the installation of the grey traffic monitoring equipment, PTA conducted an extensive audit of the white list IPs.

Now white listing of IPs is being done after a very stringent check, and a strict standard operating procedure (SOP) has been made in this regard.

As a result the IP white list has been rationalized and reduced from 51,000 to 10,360.

Furthermore, PTA has launched a 24/7 complaint centre. Complainants could lodge their objections through email on PTA websites and over the phone.

Through this facility, 1, 944 complaints had been received till date. The numbers reported were not only blocked, but were also analyzed for legal action.

In a recent case, grey traffic was detected by PTA and on further analysis it was established that a long distance and international (LDI) operator, Wise Communication, was involved in grey traffic. A joint raid was conducted by PTA and FIA and illegal terminating equipment was confiscated and violators of law were apprehended.

After an initial estimate, the Wise Communicaton had been bringing into Pakistan a total of 11 million minutes per month illegally. In two similar successful raids conducted in Karachi, a joint team of PTA and FIA confiscated nine gateways.