(a) whether the Department of Telecommunications has accorded permission to the private mobile phone companies to start internet service;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether any licence fee has been collected from the private mobile phone companies for starting the internet service; and
(d) if so, the total percentage of the revenue shared by these private mobile companies earned through internet with the Government?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (DR. SHAKEEL AHMAD)
(a) Yes, Sir.
(b) The Access Service Providers have been permitted to provide Internet Service, Internet Telephony and Broadband Service under their existing licence for providing the Access Service.
(c) According to available information Access Service Licensees have not commenced provision of internet services under Access Service Licence so far. Therefore, no licence fee has been collected from private mobile phone companies so far for this activity
(d) Does not arise in view of (c) above.