Google is not suspending Play Store in Pakistan
After the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) reportedly suspended $34 million in payments to foreign service providers like Google under the Direct Carrier Billing (DCB) service by telcos, mobile phone users would still be able to download apps from the Google Play Store but would not be able to pay for them using their mobile balance.
The SBP measure has led some local media sources to spread false information about Google’s potential suspension of all Play Store services on December1, 2022.The apps would be available for download, but the only ways users could pay for them were with debit and credit cards.
The other option for making such payments is Direct Carrier Billing (DCB), which entails using the mobile balance to make the payment.Due to a shortage of worldwide digital payment options for using different apps, DCB was created.
Since these apps are not physically present in Pakistan, additional payment methods like gift cards or cash are not supported. Users have the option of paying with DCB, Mastercard, or Visa credit/debit cards.Since not all mobile phone users possess credit or debit cards, DCB is an advantageous service for these users.
Under direct carrier billing, the mobile client tops off their balance with a specific telco to pay for the app, and the telco sends the total after a predetermined number of days, as agreed upon, either directly to the applications or through intermediaries.
The SBP has apparently stopped allowing telcos to transmit this aggregated payment to foreign service providers like Google.
