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Pakistan to hold 3G auction on March 29
19 January 2012
New and existing operators in Pakistan to be invited to bid for three 3G licences in March auction
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Pakistan
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Warid Telecom
China Mobile
Zong
Mobilink
Telenor
Ufone
The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority will hold a 3G licence auction on March 29 2012, according to local reports. The government will issue three licences with a base price for each licence set at $210 million and bidders are asked to deposit $31.5 million as initial expressions of interest. This licence will be auctioned through several rounds and an open outcry system.
Pakistan’s 2G operators are Warid Telecom, China Mobile’s Zong, Mobilink Telenor and Ufone.
Mohammad Yaseen, Pakistan regulator’s chairman, told the Express Tribune: “Three licences of 3G will be auctioned for a period of 15 years to both new and current players in the market.” Each bidder may get a chance to win a maximum of two licences and the new bidders will be able operate the spectrum only after March 2013.
A pre-bid conference will be held on March 2 and the bidders’ qualification process would be completed by March 12. The intended bidders are asked to deposit money by March 22.
Finance minister Abdul Hafeez Shaikh said: “I make a commitment that the process will be totally transparent and merit will prevail.”
Yaseen said the PTA will also auction wireless local loop spectrum for existing operators only and will also hold a pre-bid conference for that auction in February. The government will also auction Instaphone’s dead licence, which will be issued for eight years. GTB
Further reading from Global Telecoms Business:
Pakistan considers 3G licence options 27 Jul 2011
Pakistan Telecoms picks HP next-gen OSS 18 May 2010
Etisalat to pay $800m for Pakistan stake 28 Jan 2010
Bharti Airtel looks at $900m Warid deal 18 Dec 2009
China Mobile to spend $800m on expanding Pakistan network 11 Aug 2008