Pemra expects biggest investment through DTH auction

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) expects the biggest ever investment in electronic media through auction of establishing and operating the Direct to Home (DTH) distribution services in Pakistan on November 23 (Wednesday).

A Pemra official told The News that 1,500 direct and another 15,000 jobs would be generated with the initiation of the DTH services in Pakistan while the basic or start price of DTH licence would be Rs200 million. Pemra has already shortlisted 12 companies while DTH licences would be issued to the three successful bidders. 

He pointed out that India had given DTH licences to seven companies while some 65-70 per cent consumers still used the option of cable. Hence, dismissed concerns being aired by the cable operators that their investment would be ruined with the inception of DTH services in Pakistan.

The Pemra official declined to give a tentative figure of investment but insisted the investment through DTH would be the biggest ever in Pakistan’s history in electronic media. “I should say, this will be an opportunity like CPEC in electronic media,” he maintained.

He ruled out the possibility of delaying DTH services in  Pakistan for two years on the demand of cable operators association, referring to a recent statement by Pemra chairman Absar Alam. The short-listed companies, include Parus, a Russian company and Star Time, based in China, which plans to establish its factory in Pakistan.