Biometric verification system for Internet services launched

ISLAMABAD: After conducting verification of over 100 million mobile SIMs, the government has now launched biometric verification system (BVS) for all data connectivity services such as EVO etc in order to implement National Action Plan (NAP).
In a bid to make Pakistan a safer country and foiling attempts of terrorists to use technology for their nefarious designs, the regulator, Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), has launched the BVS for the second phase under which Wireless Local Loop (WLL) services will be verified till December 31. The ongoing verification exercise will discontinue from January 1, 2016.
According to official communications sent out by the PTA to all data service providers, a copy of which is available with The News, states that certain timelines were given to service providers under which they were directed to deploy and commence the BVS at customer services centres by 30 November, 2015, deploy and commence the BVS at franchises and retailers by December 31, discontinue existing process of verification on January 1, and finally re-verification of all existing connections within a period of two months after 100% BVS deployment - by February 29, 2016.
In the second phase of verification exercise, the PTA has asked the WLL operators like EVO, Vfone, Wingle, wireless dongles etc to go ahead with the BVS on immediate basis.When contacted, PTA’s spokesman on Monday said the BVS for issuance of the WLL connections has been launched for making Pakistan safe.