Tag: PTA

Cyber Watch

YouTube Ban Finally Officially Removed In Pakistan

From couple of months it seem so, that every ISP had deliberately made the https version of YouTube available to the masses. However, there was an official ban on the website. Also during that period PTA’s (Pakistan Telecommunications Authority) policy also looked lenient towards the ISPs which were allowing some traffic to YouTube. So that meant government is cooking something and something is going to be decided between the video sharing giant and government of Pakistan. Finally, just not more than couple of days ago YouTube.com launched its local .pk version in Pakistan. Which later cooperated government of Pakistan and block an objectionable video against Islam on government’s request. Following that PTA requested Supreme Court of Pakistan to order removal […]

Cyber Watch

YouTube to officially Open in Pakistan Very Soon

YouTube have now been banned for more than three and half years officially in Pakistan. However, from last couple of months it is accessible via https on all ISPs and PTCL was first to make it available on http as well. An important development happened this month when YouTube.com launched a localized version for Pakistan. Now the news is that PTA (Pakistan Telecommunications Authority) have appealed Supreme Court to remove ban on YouTube in Pakistan. According to PTA, after the launch of local version of YouTube in Pakistan, it is possible for authorities to request Google and get blocked any video which is not suitable for local users. Or any video which can cause chaos in the country. So on […]

Services

Call and SMS bundle Packages will continue to live on, Says PTA

A letter from Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) for mobile operates was issued yesterday. The letter had instructed that all chat packages, Voice and SMS must stop immediately.  Cell phone operators and general public interpreted it as all of Call and SMS packages are being banned by PTA. However, PTA today gave a further clarification on the matter. They mentioned that by chat it means the public chat room services which are being offered by Cell Phone companies, not those call or SMS bundles which people use to talk to their relatives and acquaintance. PTA had used the words in letter like “All chat packages (Voice and SMS)”, which made all the confusion and every body online and all news websites […]

Unnecessary Bans

No Call or SMS Packages for Pakistanis from now on, says PTA

Through an official notification Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) have notified all mobile operators in Pakistan to immediately discontinue all Call or SMS packages, which are being provided to customers. Also this letter gives a deadline of 2 September to all the operates, to comply and fill back a compliance report. Otherwise some action could be taken against them. This apparently is the second notification, as it is mentioned in it that earlier it was officially notified but all operators just ignored it. Also that old letter mentioned as it was issued in 2012. Was PTA sleeping for all those eight months and suddenly, they woke up and came to know that these packages are still being provided. These were openly […]

Inside Story

PTA fails to keep people informed about banned and unbanned websites

It is 30th may today and the last update on PTA’s website about the blocked websites was on 2oth of may. They even didn’t even mentioned any other blocked websites other than the Facebook and Youtube on their website. Hundreds of URLs were blocked and some of websites like Facebook , wikipedia, youtube and many more had faced blanket ban but PTA never mentioned about these banned websites on their website. Youtube is already unblocked few days ago but still no update about that on their website. Whats more important is Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) never published the details of blocked websites over the internet nor they have updated people about when certain websites are being banned or unbanned. It […]