The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has issued a warning to Zong and Jazz to respect with the Quality of Service (QoS) requirements in accordance with the applicable regulatory framework, while fining Zong Rs. 0.2 million.
The order was issued by a panel that included PTA Chairman Amir Azeem Bajwa and Member Compliance and Enforcement Dr Khawaja Siddiqui Khokhar (Zong)
The Authority issued show-cause notices to both operators for “Failure to meet or exceed QoS standards as laid down in the license and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)”
Jazz QoS Performance
A joint survey was conducted from October 26, 2020, to October 27, 2020, at Warsak & Charsadda Roads, Peshawar, to assess Jazz’s QoS performance.
The survey found that 4G/LTE signal strength, service accessibility, and call completion ratio did not meet licensing standards.
As a result, the survey results were shared with the licensee via letter dated October 29, 2020, with the directive to improve the services to licensing standards and include the area in the future 4G/LTE rollout plan. By November 20, 2020, the licensee was required to submit a compliance report.
In response, the licensee provided the reasons for the shortfalls/degradation in QoS via email dated November 29, 2020, stating that approximately 6 km patch is not covered due to the non-availability of LTE layer on two sites, and the same is planned to be upgraded in 2021.
In light of the Jazz’s response, an independent resurvey was conducted at the aforementioned areas, where it was discovered that, contrary to the licensee’s claim, some of the QoS KPIs are persistently below the standards stipulated in the license.
Zong QoS Performance
A joint survey was conducted from October 26, 2020, to October 27, 2020, at Warsak & Charsadda Roads in Peshawar to assess the Zong’s QoS performance.
During the survey, it was discovered that the 4G/LTE signal strength at Charsadda Road, as well as the call connection time at Warsak Road, were both below the license standards.
As a result, the survey results were shared with the licensee via letter dated October 29, 2020, with the directive to improve the services to licencing standards and include the area in the 4G/LTE future rollout plan, and the licensee was required to submit a compliance report by November 20, 2020. However, in light of the licensee’s response, PTA conducted an independent survey in the aforementioned areas, and it was discovered that, contrary to the licensee’s claim, some of the QoS KPIs were consistently below the standards stipulated in the licence.
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