ISLAMABAD, July 18: The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) on Monday directed all Wireless Local Loop (WLL) operators to implement single cell limited mobility as per solution defined by the authority to resolve the issue of limited mobility. The authority, in its detailed determination, has given 45 days time to WLL operators to ensure implementation of limited mobility and sought a compliance report.

The comprehensive determination came out after extensive deliberations with cellular mobile and WLL operators, telecom 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 the 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 on other networks will be allowed.

It may be mentioned 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 of one frequency to another frequency.

Inter-cell handover and inter-frequency handover from 450MHz to 1,900MHz or 479MHz would not be allowed.

Furthermore the call in progress would be dropped in the case of crossing over into neighbouring cells.

The authority has also mentioned in the determination that the authority teams at zonal officers level will be deputed after 45 days to ensure implementation of limited mobility solution and surprise tests will be conducted whereas legal action under the Pakistan Telecom (Reorganization) Act 1996 will be initiated against the violators.—APP