KARACHI, June 25: Mobilink has submitted a proposal to the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority to sort out the modality of payment of fine to its subscribers.

The regional director of the PTA, Colonel Rizwan Haidery, told Dawn on Monday that a proposal sent by Mobilink was being considered by the telecommunications regulator in Islamabad. He added that the proposal pertained to the modality of payment of fine to Mobilink subscribers.

“The PTA slapped a fine of Rs60 million against Mobilink on June 5 for poor quality of service. The cellular company was directed to pay the penalty to its consumers within 30 days. Since the consumer base of Mobilink comprises about one million subscribers, every customer is likely to receive a compensation of Rs60 each,” he said.

Col Haidery said that he was not aware of the nitty-gritty of the Mobilink proposal.

However, well-placed sources said that the Mobilink proposal about the payment of compensation to its customers suggested that each subscriber of the company gets air time

worth Rs60. The payment of the fine to customers in cash would be a real hassle, the sources added.

The PTA had also issued show-cause notices to other mobile phone companies like Ufone, Instaphone and Paktel, to furnish a report by July 5, in connection with their unsatisfactory service, the sources said.

“The PTA had also issued a letter to the Pakistan Telecommunication Company (PTCL), stating that the licence conditions of giving new connections within one week and rectification of faults within a day, were not being adhered to. The telecoms regulator had also said that there were errors in bills.”

The sources recalled that while announcing the verdict against Mobilink, the PTA Chairman, Shahzada Alam, had said that the licensee had not fully complied with the mandatory provision of its licence.

The sources said that the company had been asked to ensure that over a period of three months, ending on Sept 6, it would comply with the terms and conditions of its licence.

“The licensee, within seven days after Sept 6, will conduct a nationwide technical survey, jointly with the PTA, to determine all aspects of quality of service provided by the licensee,” they said.

The sources recalled that on Feb 22, this year, the telecoms regulator had issued a show-cause notice against Mobilink for showing very poor performance.

The company had responded by saying that certain factors had influenced the quality of some parts of its network, which were beyond its control, they said, adding that the company had asked the PTA to withdraw the notice.