Telecom Operators will be granted Licences within a week: PTA Chairman Dr. Ismail Shah

PTA Chairman, Dr. Ismail Shah, on Friday said telecom operators who have occupied 3G and 4G licenses will be granted their respective licences within a week after receiving the remaining amount from the telecom companies. Speaking at the media briefing at the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority headquarters on Friday, Chairman PTA said, the telecom companies are eager to roll out 3G services at the earliest and they will be able to provide 3G/4G services commercially after licenses have been issued by PTA.

The media briefing was arranged by the Chairman PTA and was attended by the Minister for State for Information Technology and Telecommunications, Mrs Anusha Rehman. Mrs Anusha Rehman said that around 75%  license fee of 3G and 4G is expected to come to national exchequer during this financial year. It was also said that although a road map has been created for the telecom operators to pay the licence fee in installments while operators can also pay the remaining amount in full to avoid additional interest rates. One of the successful bidders, Zong (China Mobile) has indicated to pay full amount of two licenses it won during the recent 3G and 4G auction.

“The mobile companies will be investing around 3 to 4 bn dollars in the next two to three years. One of the cellular companies is already in the process of installing 1,600 booster towers to offer telecommunication services in less served locations”

said Anusha Rehman adding that students would be benefiting the most by connecting through E-education that enables multimedia and technology enhanced learning.

The PTA chairman addded that Warid has also shown interest in 4G which is a good sign, however they have been asked to submit their proposals and demands in this regard. PTA is also in a process of preparing a software for auction and assured that the next bidding would be held through the software being prepared at the local level. He hoped the 3G and 4G would generate numerous economic activities.