ISLAMABAD: Internet service providers (ISPs) have expressed concern over delays in licence renewal by the telecom regulator, and urged government action to modernise the industry.

The Wireless Internet Service Providers Asso­ciation of Pakistan (WISPAP) in its recent meeting expressed concerns over the refusal by Pakistan Telecomm­unic­ation Authority (PTA) to renew the licences of ISPs.

The PTA classifies ISPs as Class Value Added Services (CVAS), with around 250 operators holding licences supply data to retail and wholesale consumers.

WISPAP Chairman Shehzad Arshad calls on the PTA to renew CVAS company licences and modernise regulations to facilitate the establishment of internet exchanges in the country.

“We fear that there might be some lobbying by the large bandwidth suppliers to acquire the retails businesses too and this was the reason that the PTA was not renewing the licences of CVAS,” he said.

Meanwhile, Furqan Naveed Ahmed, project director at WISPAP, also urged the government to establish internet excha­nges in Pakistan to modernise the industry.

He notes that currently all internet traffic is routed through exchanges in Dubai or Singapore. He emphasises the need for the IT ministry to persuade investors to establish exchanges in Pakistan, promoting the internet industry and curbing foreign exchange outflow to foreign-based internet exchanges.

He highlights that other developing countries like India and Bangladesh have established multiple internet exchanges, enhancing internet speed and reducing costs.

Published in Dawn, November 19th, 2023