Govt. to Auction 3G/4G Spectrum in AJK and GB this Year

A consultative meeting was held between Federal Minister for Kashmir affairs and Gilgit Baltistan Chaudhry Barjees Tahir and Minister of state for IT and telecom Anusha Rehman to discuss various aspects of policy directive for provision of Next Generation Mobile services to AJK & GB.

Govt. to Auction 3G/4G Spectrum in AJK and GB this Year

The meeting was held at MoIT. Federal Secretary of Kashmir affairs and GB Abid Saeed, Federal Secretary IT Mr. Azmat Ali Ranjha, DG SCO Maj Gen Amir Bajwa, Chairman PTA, DG FAB, and other senior officials from both the ministries were present during the meeting.

Federal Minister Kashmir affairs and GB informed that Prime Minister has made it sure that AJK & GB will get 3G/4G services soon.

Anusha Rahman also confirmed that to provide 3G/4G services to people of AJK & GB is on our priority list and we are working towards offering recent technology to the residents of these areas. Up gradation of their GSM networks is being done by SCO with the help of PSDP projects and we will support Ministry of Kashmir affairs and Gilgit Baltistan in the next generation spectrum auction of 3G/4G to fulfill the commitment of our Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif.

For further negotiations and providing necessary facilities before the launch of 3G/4G services, they would meet again on February 18, the minister added.

Barjees Tahir further stated that it had been decided to meet other finances requirement for upgrading the network and other equipments from the Universal Service Fund (USF) of AJK&GB. Owing to the absence of modern internet facilities in the AJK and GB, people of the two regions could not develop their skills in different sectors, especially education and health. Both sides decided to execute this 3G/4G spectrum auction within this year.

Minister IT also said that almost Rs.2 Billion are available in the USF Fund for development of ICT sector in AJK & GB. The funds will be transferred to USF for development in AJK & GB once the framework is finalized by AJK & GB Councils.