Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has announced that Telecom subscribers in the country have crossed the landmark of 200 million, reported 24NewsHDTV Channel.
In order to celebrate the milestone, PTA has offered a complimentary package to the telecom users. IN this regard a special ceremony was organized at PTA Headquarters in Islamabad. The meeting was attended by key stakeholders from the telecom industry, including mobile network operators (MNOs), mobile device manufacturers (MDMs) and senior officials.
According to the package, on June 20, users will receive 2 GB of free data and 200 on-net minutes valid for 24 hours. According to PTA, the country now has over 197 million mobile subscribers, while broadband users have exceeded 143 million. Fixed-line telephone users stand at around 3 million. The authority also reported that mobile services are available in 80.30% of the country’s geographic areas.
Addresses the ceremony, PTA Chairman Major General (retd) Hafeez-ur-Rehman said that the number of mobile phone subscribers has crossed 197.7 million, with 80.30 percent of the country’s population now having access to mobile services. “Broadband subscriptions have reached 150 million, while fixed-line telephone users stand at 3.75 million, he added.”
Mobile device manufacturers have also been invited to support the initiative by contributing 10 to 15 mid-range smartphones, which will be distributed among attendees through a lucky draw. The meeting is focus on progress in connectivity and future strategies to expand digital services in Pakistan.
Earlier, PTA warned mobile users, advising them to make sure their SIM cards are registered under their name to avoid unauthorised usage. According to a recent announcement on the social media platform, Facebook, PTA highlighted that users must verify their SIM ownership to avoid misuse by criminals.
Emphasising the SIM Registration measure is required as unauthorised individuals can misuse stolen personal information to acquire illegal mobile SIM cards, which may then be utilised for fraudulent purposes, criminal activities, or even acts of terrorism. To verify the number of SIM cards registered under your name, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) recommends visiting cnic.sims.pk or sending your CNIC number via SMS to 668.