KARACHI, July 18: The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority has announced its decision on the dispute between cell phone operators and wireless local loop operators over limited mobility. The PTA regional director, Rizwan Hydri, told Dawn on Monday that the PTA decision was in line with the telecoms deregulation policy. “A complaint was lodged by cell phone operators against WLL operators on the issue of mobility over two months back. The PTA had discussion with both stakeholders and the current decision is in accordance with provision of single-cell mobility allowed to WLL operators under the deregulation policy,” he explained.

The PTA has directed all WLL operators to implement single-cell limited mobility within 45 days.

“The WLL operators have been given 45 days to take their customers into confidence about the decision. They will have to submit a compliance report,” said Mr Hydri.

The PTA determination defines “cell” as a geographical area covered by a predefined radio base station, consisting of one or up to three sectors of the single allocated frequency band.

Analysts said the PTA decision was against WLL operators who sold the latest technology to their customers promising greater mobility than was being allowed by the telecoms regulator now.

A press release issued by the PTA says the comprehensive determination came out after extensive deliberations with cellular mobile and WLL operators, telecoms experts, solution providers of international repute and academia.

“The solution to the issue of limited mobility exhibits the real spirit of the Telecommunication Deregulation Policy 2003, which says that LL licensees who opt for wireless solutions may provide limited mobility within a cell, but not beyond local call charging radius. No inter-cell handovers and roaming to other networks will be allowed. It may be important to mention here that the handover, which is restricted under the policy, is an event in radio network in which the control of a call in progress is transferred from one cell to another cell or one frequency to another frequency. Under the determination issued by PTA, inter-cell handover and inter frequency handover from 450 MHz to 1900 MHz or 479 MHz etc would not be allowed. Furthermore the call in progress would be dropped in the case of crossing over into the neighboring cells,” it says.

The press release says that the PTA has also mentioned in the determination that teams at Zonal offices level will be deputed after 45 days to ensure the implementation of limited mobility solution and surprise tests will be conducted whereas legal action under the Pakistan Telecom (Re-organization) Act 1996 shall be initiated against the violators.