New Entrant wanted 3G/4G license but conditions were unacceptable

New Entrant wanted 3G/4G license but conditions were unacceptable. State Minister for Information and Technology, Anusha Rehman said new companies had expressed interest in the 3G/ 4G license auction but their conditions were not acceptable.

New Entrant wanted 3G/4G license but conditions were unacceptable

Anusha Rehman said new companies wanted the license not to be given to existing cellular companies in Pakistan for one year. Anusha Rehman added that if the government would have listened to this condition it would have been unfair.

PTA officials said no foreign cellular company had expressed interest in the auction in which three 3G and two 4G licenses will be sold. It will be necessary to acquire a 3G license before a 4G license can be purchased.

According to officials the minimum cost of a 3G license will be $295 million and $210 million for 4G.

The State Minister for IT told reporters that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif wanted the latest 4G mobile technology to be available in Pakistan.

Earlier, Pakistan Telecommunications Authority officials said four existing cellular companies in Pakistan had qualified for the auction but there had been no interest from new companies.