Internet Downtime and Penalties: PTA’s Definitions

Just read one recent RFP of PTA – as authority wants some ISP to provide internet and intranet services to PTA headquarter and its zonal offices. Out of proposed contract we found one very interesting thing, that we want to share with out readers – its about service downtime – and penalties on ISPs in case of downtime.
Funny as it sounds (as we don’t have any such policy otherwise) but the thing that amused me the most was the explanation of ‘Downtime”. Keep reading to know why i said it amusing.
Wikipedia definition of downtime is “a period of time that a system fails to provide or perform its primary function”.
Now, PTA in its recent RFP for award of internet services contract wrote something like this

Maximum Allowable Downtime (Downtime is considered when Both Wireless & DSL are down or degraded services defined below) in one complain or Day will be 30 Minutes.
Downtime is considered if there’s a 50 % packet loss in case of Internet bandwidth and degraded is considered if there’s more than 3 % Packet loss which will be checked by unit of customer and third party software like MRTG.

Apparently – by this authority means that 30 minutes of downtime (per day) is allowable, anything beyond this will be penalized – that’s pretty kind of PTA I would say.
They didn’t stop here though. They have actually put in the penalties in case of downtime. Let’s have a look!

Most you people must be wondering that what’s so wrong about it? There is nothing wrong in here fellas, but just think that how much downtime you get at your own homes? Got my point!!.
Now, tell me how much penalty do you put in on your service provider for the downtime during the month. Zero % I am sure.
But don’t you think that PTA should start similar penalty kind of service contract for customers too. Am I right?
We receive emails from PTCL and Wateen customers, who are suffering down time for days – but there is no one to hear their pleas. And look at PTA, its securing its account so bluntly but no rule or policy for customers.

wi-tribe Gives Away Bonuses

wi-tribe announced bonuses for all of its permanent employees based on their performance appraisals. We don’t know that how much have been announced but our sources have confirmed that its minimum of one basic salary.
About One year in market and announcing Bonus to its employees is bringing impression on people that they are in here for some serious business.

4 Free Minutes After Every Minute: Djuice Pakka Dost

Djuice is offering Din Raat and Jagtay Raho subscribers, 4 minutes free after every minute for FnF (Pakka Dost Calls).
Djuice subscribers on other packages can also get the goods in the form of a minute free after every minute whenever they call their pakka dost.
How to Avail Offer?
Simply dial *345*101# to activate your FnF
Tariff:
Calls to Friends & Family numbers: Rs 0.5 (plus tax) / 30 seconds
Terms

• Limited time offer
• Standard FnF charges of 50 paisa/30 Sec apply
• Apart from din raat and jagtay raho all other djuice price plans get 1 minute free
• 19.5% FED on usage and 10% withholding tax on bill apply

Telenor Cricket Alerts

Busy with your schedule? Cannot sit in front of TV to watch your favorite match? Telenor brings the SMS Cricket Alerts of for any ongoing cricket match right on your mobile.  Stay updated with the latest happening.
For subscription
Send CRI to 120
Alerts Include

• Wicket Alerts
• Match Score
• Match Achievements
• Match Summary
• Match Schedule

Charges
Rs.50+Tax/Tournament
To get score update at any time without subscription, SMS CKT to 120 at Rs.2+Tax

Akbar Khan Promoted as CMO, Ufone

We are just told that Akbar Khan has been promoted as Chief Marketing Officer at Ufone. Earlier, Mr. Khan was acting CMO since August 2009 after Asher Yaqoob had departed to join BanglaLink.
Ufone has confirmed us the promotion of Mr. Akbar Khan.
Before joining Ufone in December 2008, Akbar Khan was head of brands at Mobilink.
Before Mobilink, Akbar Khan was National Marketing Manager at Paktel and happened to be the key man behind the marketing campaign of Paktel’s GSM launch.

Ufone Solid Offer is Expiring Today…!

Just a friendly reminder to those blessed Ufone users who were using Solid Offer for last three months, Ufone Solid Offer is expiring today, with no further extension this time.
Ufone extended Solid offer twice, before it decided to permanently end the package tonight. Our sources at Ufone and Help Line have confirmed us that Solid Offer is ending tonight at 11:59 PM – sharp.
Ufone has already notified its customers about expiration of this package, through SMS and other communication channels.
After expiration of Solid Offer, Ufone users will retain normal Ufone packages, as they had before Solid Offer.
With Solid Offer Ufone customers could make free on-net calls after first three minutes.

PTCL Privatization Deal Unfair, Contrary to Rules: NA told

The Federal Minister  for Privatisation  Senator Waqar  Ahmed Khan  Wednesday revealed  before the  National Assembly  that the  privatization deal  of PTCL  with Etisalat  was not  transparent and  made in  violation of  rules and  procedures.
“The  deal of  privatization of  PTCL was not transparent. It was made contrary to rules and procedures, said the minister replying to a question and later the House referred the subject matter to the National Assembly Standing Committee on Privatization for probe.
The members from the opposition party requested the chair to form a special parliamentary committee to probe the deal that was not opposed by the minister concerned but the Deputy Speaker Faisal Karim Kundi said as the matter is already under discussion with the standing committee concerned.
“The matter is referred to the standing committee. However, if the committee members feel that formation of special committee was essential it would be done,” the deputy speaker assured.
He told the House that the SPA was finalized and transaction was made without taking the Privatization Commission Board into confidence, adding that Etisalat has withheld $800 million over the mutation of land issue to be transferred to the UAE-based company.
He told the House that around 3,500 properties were to be transferred to Etisalat which also comprise lands not even owned by federal or any provincial government rather either those are private properties are under litigation.
In total, the minister said the government has received an amount of US$ 1.79 billion from the Etisalat out of that an amount of US$ 1.5 billion has been remitted to federal government for debt retirement and poverty alleviation.
Besides, an amount of US$ 251 million has been utilized for payment of 50 percent share of government on account of PTCL employees VSS dues. The remaining amount of proceeds has been utilized for payment of the transaction cost on account of financial advisory and legal experts.
Waqar Ahmed said as the matter involves two states, the government is trying to resolve the issue of withheld amount amicably through diplomatic channels but he added, so far there is no headway in this regard.
Senator Waqar told the House that the deal was full of flaws and the legal advisors had asked the then government to scrap it otherwise it would be considered contrary to rules.
On a supplementary question, Khawaja Sheraz suggested the formation of a special committee to look into the matter referring to the standing committee concerned that has already given its decision on the issue.
Raza Hayat Haraj told the House that as the minister concerned has not opposed the formation of special committee then there should be no more discussion over it and the body be formed with the mandate to investigate the callous deal.
Later, minister for privatization also requested the chair to reconsider the decision and form the committee in what the deputy speaker said it would be formed if the committee members express their desire in this regard.
Via APP