ISLAMABAD, March 5: The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) issued 80 licenses for different value added services and collected Rs474 million on account of annual fee and royalty during financial year 2002-03.

According to the annual report 2002-03 of the authority, out of the total, as many as 56 licenses were issued for card payphone services, 15 for electronic information services and nine for other services.

The total income during 2002-03 was Rs645 million against an expenditure of Rs157 million resulting into an excess of Rs488 million. The authority is devising strategies to implement and executer telecom deregulation policy, announced in 2003 after discussions and consultations, said PTA's annual report 2002-03.

The report said the PTA had adopted a pro-active approach and necessary preparations were under way for the implementation of the policy in a transparent manner.

The PTA has also introduced video conferencing system to promote availability of wide range of cost effective and competitive telecommunication services throughout the country.

Standard operating procedures for establishment of international VSAT connectivity for information technology enabled services under the Pakistan Telecommunication Company franchise scheme were prepared and placed on PTA website for public information.

The authority also issued license to the Special Communication Organization to operate GSM cellular phone system in Azad Kashmir and Northern Areas. Six satellite companies also registered themselves with the PTA during the period, the report added. -APP