ISLAMABAD, Jan 1: Over the past few years Internet Service Providers industry was not making headway and was facing difficulties in expanding its user-base despite the low tariffs.

In an effort to turn the tables around, Pakistan Telecommunication Company on Thursday signed revenue sharing agreements with three major Internet Service Providers (ISPs) including Link dot Net, Sky Net and Comsats.

With the signing of this agreement with the PTCL, ISPs would now offer internet services at zero tariffs to general public on postpaid mechanism.

The agreement signing ceremony was held at Pakistan Telecommunication Authority HQs, here with the Chairman PTA, Dr Mohammed Yaseen in the chair.

The users would only be charged local call tariffs for 20-minutes pulse by PTCL and the revenue shall be shared between PTCL and ISPs.

After this agreement, it was expected that internet would now proliferate to every nook and corner of the country as internet users could be able to avail free internet services of any ISP of their choice without the hassle of buying prepaid cards.

Previously, the internet dialup services had unlimited metering. However, on the request of PTCL and ISPs, PTA had agreed to change pulse duration of 131 calls to 20 minutes provided the ISPs would not charge the users for internet services.

This decision by PTA would go a long way in bridging the digital divide across the country.