11 lakh consumers get SIM data corrected.

ISLAMABAD, November 01, 2009 (Balochistan Times ): In pursuance of the national security objectives, first time ever, the countrys cellular phone industry has shared its complete data on a central platform to clean up illegal subscribers and block illegitimate SIMs - thanks to PTAs 668 initiative. As many as 6.8 million people have hit the 668 service for correction of data of their SIMs, while the 11 lakh unauthorized SIMs have been removed from the names of cell phone users on their request. In a commendable move, the industry leaders in collaboration with Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) are fully backing a campaign that requires the subscribers to send their CNIC numbers to a designated short code 668 through SMS and get the summary information on the number of SIMs issued under any cellular operator against that CNIC number. Priorly, various campaigns to urge people to shift their cellular numbers to their names have been run however have not met major success. But the current campaign that provides access to information directly to your cellular number seems to be making a huge wave as millions have already checked their records and hundreds and thousands of SIMS have already been notified to be shifted or blocked. However, there are many questions that keep bugging the subscribers who have taken the initiative and actually visited the Customers Services Centers (CSCs) of the Cellular companies. One of the common misunderstanding is that once you request disconnection of service against a certain number not in your use, it will be immediately removed from the database. The other is perhaps just showing the SMS at the CSC will get the job accomplished.When approached, the PTA spokesperson explained that the change of ownership is immediately affected when the subscriber requests for that but since the PTA database is updated after one month, therefore on rechecking through 668, the summary information will not show any change till the data is updated with the requested SIMs removed from his/her CNIC. Regarding the second issue, he said that under the PTA Standard Operating Procedure (SOP); the customer would require producing his/her original CNIC along with the SMS response for processing of his request. Moreover, the companies are not authorised to show the actual numbers under that CNIC to the complaining customer but would right away get them removed from his/her CNIC number. Meanwhile, PTA has also allowed selected franchises across the country to register complaints of subscribers regarding excessive SIMs but they will forward such cases for correction to the Company concerned. The increase in number of outlets from where service disconnection can be requested against illegally used SIMs would help us deal with the rush of customers enabling us to clean up the data quickly Industry sources said. They also added that despite lots of rush on their CSCs due to the 668 campaign, they are continuously increasing automation and manpower to deal with this important task. As per data available, around 312,000 complainants have so far visited the Customer Service Centers (CSC) of concerned mobile operators for their SIM data correction, while more than 9,00,000 illegal SIMs have been removed from the complainants CNICs after they provided undertaking. Those who have visited CSC are 5.9 percent of total complaints received t PTAs system through text messages in wake of the information provided by SIM Information system 668 introduced by Pakistan elecommunication Authority (PTA). PTA has also been conducting continued monitoring and customers perception/satisfaction surveys which have revealed that the customers are concerned that why and how SIMs have been registered against their CNICs without their knowledge. The authority found that customers did not take interest in registering SIMs in their own names despite the information that it is illegal to use unregistered SIMs and repeated warnings by PTA and mobile operators on it. Another reason of this problem had been misuse of CNIC copy at franchisees and retailers of those customers who did not properly fill up the CSAF. In some cases negligence on part of consumers while making photocopy of CNIC at different photocopies shops where the copy are retained by shop owners for ulterior motives has also served in bringing up this situation. PTA had informed the mobile subscribers that they should write the number of a particular mobile connection on copy of their CNIC before providing it to CSCs, franchises and retailers for a new connection. Chairman PTA Dr Mohammed Yaseen says a foolproof data monitoring and clearance system has been launched to verify and correct data of around 95 million cell phone subscribers and 12.9 million illegal SIMs have been blocked. The Chairman PTA Dr Yaseen said in the first phase, the PTA successfully verified data and around 10 million illegal SIMs were blocked. Later, 2.9 million SIMS were blocked in the second phase and any consumer was allowed to own not more than 10 SIM connections. However, now we are verifying the data of these 10 SIMs and the data of each and every SIM holder would be verified and corrected. The consumers should contact relevant telecom operators customer consumer center for verification if they receive any message by the operator or their connection would be blocked, he briefed. He said the PTA wanted 100 percent verified data of the consumers and PTA website had recorded 1.2 million hits by customers. This lower number reflects either the consumers are satisfied with their data details or they are reluctant to do so. However, let me make it clear that their SIMs would be blocked if data is not verified within timeframe, he said, adding that the corrected data details would be available after one month so the consumers should not get worried after verifying their data. He said the PTA was making sure that automated data verification is made. He urged the media as well as consumers to help the PTA and telecom operators to get the consumers data verified. In view of problems faced by mobile users of small cities and towns in seeking their SIMs data correction, PTA has taken number of steps. It has allowed the selected Franchises to receive the complaints regarding SIMs data for the convenience of mobile users. These Franchisees are only allowed to register the complaints by filling the undertaking forms, copy of which they return to the complainant. The franchisees are not allowed to change/amend the data rather they only forward those complaints to concerned mobile company for the correction in the data as desired by consumer. It may be noted that CSCs of mobile companies are experiencing considerable rush due to the ongoing SIM data correction process. PTA has requested the mobile users to show patience at CSCs/franchises as every effort is being made to ensure the provision of due support to them by the CSCs staff. Streamlining of mobile users data may take few months but once this process is completed, it will eventually benefit the telecom consumers. The purpose of this practice is to streamline the data of mobile users which cannot be achieved without their cooperation.

(THROUGH ASIA PULSE)