Pakistan Telecommunication Authority, in a statement, said that mobile phone companies cannot close their services – even for a short period of time – as other utility companies.
The regulator indicated that mobile operators are subject to conditions of license, rules, and regulations issued by PTA, under these terms, operators are required to provide uninterrupted telecommunications services to subscribers and, if not, the regulator has appropriate provisions to take appropriate measures.
The PTA made it clear in its statement that the report on the load-shedding of mobile telephone services was out of context and incorrect without denying the fact that the cellular companies had alluded to potential failures due to the exuberant taxes on telecommunications.