Mobile Operators to Knock the Door of Court Against PTA’s Decision

Mobile operators are planning to knock the door of court against Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA)’s decision on price, terms, and conditions for license renewal.

Senior officials at cellular companies revealed that they have reservations on PTA’s decision with respect to the fee for license renewal while fixing it at $39.5 million per MHz for frequency spectrum of 900 MHz and $29.5 million per MHz for frequency spectrum of 1800 MHz.

Mobile Operators to Knock the Door of Court Against PTA’s Decision

 

Operators have time till August 21, 2019, and they are considering different options. The option of moving court is also available and they are opting it, however, the final decision is yet to be taken.

“We have plenty of time i.e. till August 21, 2019, and we will take decision with respect to license renewal”, said an official of cellular companies.

Mobile operators’ first reservation is on the fee for license renewal. However, PTA has rejected mobile operators’ apprehensions relating to the price of mobile license renewals and passed an order while fixing the fee for license renewal at $39.5 million per MHz for frequency spectrum of 900 MHz and $29.5 million per MHz for frequency spectrum of 1800 MHz.

PTA has directed operators to pay their license fee before August 21st, 2019 or their licenses will be termed expired and they will not be allowed to provide telecom services after the deadline.

The second issue is quality of service and rollout obligations —as mobile operators have linked it with the value of renewal fee of the license.

PTA, while exercising its rights, telecom consumers’ interest and for the proper conduct of telecommunication services, has decided to enhance the quality of service and rollout targets in order to meet the parameters of quality of service so as to bring it in harmony with the international best practices.

Furthermore, the telecom licenses are going to be technology-neutral; therefore, the licensees are entitled to deploy any latest technology for the provision of the licensed services.

Recommended Reading: PTA Fixes Fee for License Renewal at $39.5 Million/MHz