ISLAMABAD, Jan 17: Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has asked PTCL to provide maximum relief to the telecom service providers, who use the company's co-location facilities for the promotion of industry and providing quality service to consumers.

According to a press release, the decision, a key step towards implementation of telecom deregulation policy, recently announced by the government includes substantial relief package for the telecom service operators.

The authority took this decision in a meeting held on Friday which was attended by representatives of mobile operators, internet service providers, pay phone operators and PTCL.

During the meeting, the authority directed the PTCL to reduce rates for a number of important services being provided by the company like rent of purpose-built co-location premises, towers, dish antennas, usage of power to facilitate existing as well as new entrants in the telecom market.

Under the new arrangements, rates for purpose-built co- location space has been reduced from Rs168 per SQF to Rs16.50 per SQF per month.

Similarly, tariffs for the installation of roof-top self supported towers have been reduced from Rs150,000 to Rs50,000 and charges for utilization of open space from Rs29 per SQF per month to Rs11.

The PTCL has also been asked to approach Wapda and KESC for seeking their consent to charge company at industrial tariffs instead of commercial for the benefit of service providers.