Telecom operators have pushed back against claims made during a recent Senate review of SMS alert charges, saying banks set the final prices customers pay. The issue came under discussion at the Senate Standing Committee on Finance and Revenue, where questions were raised about rising banking alert fees and who controls them.
Industry sources explained that banks usually do not connect directly with telecom networks for SMS alerts. Instead, they rely on licensed third-party aggregators. These firms handle message routing, improve delivery, and manage commercial terms before sending traffic to telecom operators. Because of this structure, operators are only one part of a larger system and do not decide what customers are charged.
Telecom companies offer bulk messaging services through commercial agreements, either directly or via aggregators. However, banks set their own pricing models for customers. This includes monthly SMS alert fees, which sources say are often higher than the actual cost within the messaging chain. Therefore, blaming telecom operators alone does not show the full picture.
Operators also pointed to the financial gap between sectors. They noted that banks remain highly profitable, while telecom companies face ongoing cost pressure. These include low average revenue per user, rising energy costs, heavy taxes, and continuous investment in network expansion and maintenance.
Even with these challenges, telecom providers say they continue to offer competitive rates for enterprise messaging. These services support key functions like banking alerts and customer notifications.
They also shared that dedicated enterprise teams handle bulk service deals with banks and aggregators. These agreements follow clear and volume-based pricing models. Operators have also shown willingness to share detailed data with the Senate Committee. This includes message volumes and service rates to prove there is no overcharging from their side.
Telecom operators further confirmed that they follow all rules set by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority. They remain under strict regulatory oversight in Pakistan.
Industry stakeholders said they will continue to support secure digital banking services. At the same time, they plan to work closely with regulators to improve financial inclusion and maintain transparency.
