PTA receives offers worth Rs108mln for WLL services in Kashmir, GB

ISLAMABAD:  The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) on Tuesday received bids worth Rs108.4 million for 3.5 GHz spectrum licences, to be used for wireless local loop (WLL) services in Azad Jammu & Kashmir and Gilgit Baltistan.

 “LinkDotNet offered the highest bid of Rs 10 million during the process and therefore, was declared the successful bidder for one lot,” a PTA statement said.  “PTCL (Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited) took the second lot by matching the same price of Rs.10 million.”

PTCL and LinkDotNet Telecom Limited participated in the auction of one lot of 3.5 GHz in TR-I - Mirpur Region. The auction was conducted in an open and transparent manner through open outcry method, it added.

The statement said the spectrum will be awarded after necessary payments by the successful bidders. “The total bid price for all spectrum lots comes to Rs108.4 million.”

The auction was witnessed by representatives from AJ&K and GB Councils, Ministry of Information Technology (MoIT), Frequency Allocation Board (FAB) and the telecom industry.

PTA invited bids for “Auction of Spectrum in 1900 MHz and 3.5GHz for WLL services in AJ&K and GB” on October 16, 2015 and also published information memorandum (IM).

An information session with the prospective bidders was held on November 10, 2015. Applications along with pre-bid deposits were received till December 7 and the qualified bidders were notified on December 15, 2015. 

An information package containing necessary details of the auction process was also provided to the qualified applicants on December 21.

PTCL applied for all of the nine lots offered i.e. 1X1900 MHz and 2X3.5 GHz in all three regions of Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJ&K) and Gilgit Baltistan (GB) while LinkDotNet Telecom Limited applied for one lot of 3.5 GHz in TR-I (Mirpur).

The statement said the PTCL will be offered all the lots applied in TR-II (Muzaffarabad) and TR-III (Gilgit Baltistan) on base price in accordance with the IM while in TR I each 3.5 GHz slot will be offered to bid winners at the highest bid price of Rs10 million each.  “The 1900 MHz slot in TR I (Mirpur) will go to PTCL at the price of Rs55.8 million,” it added.

Syed Ismail Shah, chairman PTA, said the auction was aimed at enhanced telecom services for the people of AJ&K and GB. 

“It’s a win-win situation for all government, operators and the consumers as it will ensure revenues for government, business for operators and better services for consumers of the far-off regions,” Shah said.  “This will have positive cumulative effect on the economies of these regions. “

He said PTA has suggested the government to set up handset assembly plants and data centers in AJ&K and GB as natural climate in these areas is very favorable for such businesses.