Cyberia

British mobile phone giant Vodafone said Tuesday the group would axe 500 jobs in its home market as part of a cost-cutting programme that was unveiled last year. “Vodafone UK has today announced reductions to its operating costs in order for it to compete more effectively in the UK market,” the company said in a brief statement.

“The majority of savings will be achieved by taking operating costs out of the business, however, there will also be a reduction of approximately 500 jobs across the business. Staff affected by the decision have been informed today.” The group, which employs about 10,000 people in Britain, had launched a major cost-cutting programme in November to reduce costs by 1.0 billion pounds by March 2011.

Advisor to the Prime Minister on Interior has said that all unregistered Sims of various cellular companies being used would be blocked after March 31, 2009. An Interior Ministry press release issued here Sunday said that Nadra would verify the data of buyers of the Sim.

About the already unregistered Sims being used, he said messages would be sent to mobile phone numbers users to register Sims (Subscribers Identification Module) in their name, otherwise these would be blocked.

The Cabinet has accused the country’s telecommunication sector of inflicting heavy revenue loss to the government through illegal traffic of international calls and evading taxes and duties, official sources told Business Recorder.

They said that the Cabinet made this judgement in its meeting on February 18 in Governor House, Lahore, while considering a proposal titled ‘Equal Treatment for Contribution in Research and Development (R&D) Fund’ for fixed line and mobile operators.

“Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has recently imported latest equipment to check this unlawful practice,” sources quoted the Ministry of Information and Technology as stating in the meeting.

The Cabinet was briefed that with a view to developing indigenous information and communication technology and its human resource, deregulation policy 2003 provided for contribution to R&D fund.

Accordingly, all fixed line licensees and cellular operators were required to contribute @ 1 percent of gross revenue minus inter operator and related PTA/ Frequency Allocation Board (FAB) mandated payments.

According to sources, cellular mobile policy, approved by the Cabinet on 28th January 2004, prescribed R&D contribution for cellular operators @ 0.5 percent of gross revenue minus inter operator and related PTA/FAB mandated payments. Resultantly, an anomaly in contribution of R&D fund for fixed line licensees cropped up, which had been taken up by Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) and PTA.

The Ministry of Investment, sources said, recently had recommended adoption of uniform policy; hence, the proposal for contribution of 0.5 percent for all fixed line and cellular operators.

During discussion in the Cabinet, details were sought regarding R&D fund collected, committed and utilised. The Cabinet was informed that that the programs under implementation did not appear to focus on research and development. However, it was emphasised that utilisation of these funds should be restricted to the relevant sector only.

The Cabinet observed that in the interest of investment promotion, the government was obliged to ensure transparency and provide level playing field to all operators. Simultaneously, it was also emphasised that amendments in policy should not be perceived to benefit an individual company or sector of industry and level playing field for all be ensured.

Some Cabinet members were of the view that the proposal, if approved, would entail substantial decrease in R&D fund collection.

When the issue of illegal traffic of international calls came under discussion, a number of Cabinet members urged that the problem called for urgent and effective measures.

They argued that high rate of duty on terminating calls was cited as one of the factors motivating the telephone operators to evade taxes and duties. Sources said the Cabinet did not approve the proposal due to divergence in views expressed by the participants, which according to the Prime Minister viewpoint, necessitated comprehensive review of the matter.

However, the Cabinet, after detailed discussion, constituted a committee comprising Minister for Kashmir Affairs, Minister for Privatisation, Minister for Industries, Minister for Science and Technology, Adviser to Prime Minister on Interior and Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Social Sector.

The meeting of the committee will be convened by Minister for Kashmir Affairs Qamar Zaman Kaira, who formerly was Minister for Information Technology. The findings/recommendations of the committee may be presented in the next meeting of the Cabinet.

Pakistan Telecommunications Corporation Ltd (PTCL) has announced a new wireless broadband service for its subscribers in Karachi from February 22. Addressing a luncheon meeting with the members of Korangi Association of Trade and Industry (Kati), the Executive Vice President PTCL Abdul Baseer said that the new service would be called Evolution Data Optimisation (EVDO) and provide better and fast DSL service to its subscribers.

He informed that there is no consideration to declare local call free. He said that PTCL’s revenue has dropped to almost half from Rs 36 billion during last fiscal year. He said that this was due to the de-regularisation policy of the government. He said that PTCL would also announce some new packages to its subscribers very soon.

Baseer said that PTCL has funds available in millions of rupees for the repair of 3 million cables in the city and to improve its infrastructure in Karachi but the permission for digging up portions of the roads from the City District Government (CDGK) is yet to be accorded. He assured that as soon as CDGK gives permission work would be started.

Replying to the demand by the Kati chief Mian Zahid Husain, he said that PTCL would soon set up a special cell at the Kati premises to resolve problems of the Kati members at a fast track. He said that the PTCL always considers to solve business community’s problems on priority basis and would welcome all the suggestions in this regard. He said that the huge number of employees is the biggest burden on PTCL but the corporation is not considering any downsizing at this point.

Earlier Chairman Kati Mian Zahid Husain in his welcome address suggested the PTCL to set up a special cell at the Kati premises to address day-to-day complaints of the Kati industrialists. He further proposed that a performance report of this cell should also be submitted to him on weekly basis. He offered every possible help from Kati in this regard.

He said that Korangi industrial area is contributing Rs 270 million per day to the national exchequer and telecommunications plays a major role in the business activities and due to the reason industrialists are in dire need of uninterrupted telecommunications facilities especially DSL. He said that PTCL should provide fax and desired number facility in its V-phone service. The Parton in chief, Kati, S M Muneer in his address, said that the country’s economy would remain in crisis during entire 2009 fiscal year.

He said that PTCL was the only privatised corporation which has improved its performance during last year. He, however said there is something wrong in the PTCL at the lower level which should be looked into. He pointed out that PTCL contractors leave dug up streets unattended due to which the industrialists have to face difficulties. Chairman, PTCL Committee Kati, Shahid Qureshi also spoke on the occasion.

Mobilink has announced its countrywide programme of selecting top students as Mobilink Brand Ambassadors (MBAs) from among the leading universities of Pakistan, said a press release issued here on Tuesday. The Mobilink Brand Ambassador Programme, which kicked off at IBA Sukkur aims to select students with an exceptional flair for marketing.

The selected individuals will act as Mobilink Brand Ambassadors amongst the youth. The Mobilink Brand Ambassador programme is yet another aptly designed initiative by Mobilink to seek, groom and nurture exceptional talent from all over the country.

The selected candidates will be imparted specialised training including skills in latest marketing techniques, training materials and first hand exposure to marketing in a highly challenging environment. The ‘MBAs’ will be rewarded with internship certificates, support and guidance from Mobilink’s talented marketing team, chance to win a trip to Dubai and most importantly, a guaranteed job interview at Mobilink. The next stop of the Mobilink Brand Ambassador (MBA) program is Bahauddin Zakaria University Multan.