Pakistan’s telecom authority looks to make headway in 3G licensing

The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has been instructed to ensure the long-delayed 3G licence auction takes place within the next three months, local media sources report.

PTA officials said that they have made all preparations for the 3G licence auction and would be inviting bids soon.

One option will see the offer of up to 10MHz of radio spectrum per licence, with the government expecting to earn between US$240-US$800 million. A second option would be to offer fewer licences in blocks of 20-35MHz, generating estimated revenue of between US$750 million-US$1.2 billion.

Although the licence process is expected to be decided on shortly, the concessions themselves might not be available until 2013. This is due to an agreement entered into by the government not to offer any additional radio spectrum, as part of its deal to sell a 26 per cent stake in state-owned Pakistan Telecommunications Company to Etisalat in 2006.