Breaking: Jazz Becomes Only Operator to Bid for 4G Spectrum

Jazz has emerged as the only bidder for the auction of Next Generation Mobile Services (NGMS) (3G/4G) spectrum and will get it at base price of $295 million, we have checked with sources.

Ufone, Telenor and Zong are not participating in the spectrum auction and the government has also failed in attracting any new operator to the market.

Pakistan Telecommunication Authority had announced that it will hold spectrum auction on May 24, 2017. The deadline for submission of applications was May 17, 2017 and  only Jazz submitted the application.

The spectrum included in the NGMSA comprises of 10 MHz of paired spectrum in the 1800 MHz band, however, exact lot details will be finalized later as per the re-farming plan.

As per the Information Memorandum (IM), in case where bidding is not required due to single bidder, applicant that submitted a pre-bid offer supported by a legit pre-bid deposit will be awarded the license for use of spectrum.

The government, however, reserves the right to withhold the spectrum for a future auction or award it as deemed appropriate.

It must be mentioned here that Jazz opted for new spectrum and is in favor of disposing off Warid spectrum that it got through acquisition. It maybe recalled that Warid’s spectrum is expiring in 2019.

With this, Ufone — as we thought it could participate in the auction — is left with limited options in the long run by not participating in the bid.

Update

PTA has officially confirmed that it has received one bid till the deadline of 17th May (1600 hrs) for a 10 MHz paired slot in 1800 MHz.

A statement issued by the regulator said that bid was placed by Jazz.

PTA said that it will now evaluate the bid as per IM and if it is found to have met all required conditions the bid will be declared successful.

Jazz — if termed successful bidder — will have two options for payment i.e all payment (USD 295 Million) made upfront, or 50 percent payment can be made upfront and remaining 50 percent in 5 equal annual installments with one year LIBOR plus 3%.

In addition successful bidder will also pay 10% tax on the auction winning price to FBR which comes to 29.5 USD Million.

It may be noted that this is the third NGMS auction held so far since 2014 and a total of USD 1.98 Billion have been earned for the national exchequer through these spectrum auctions.


  • 3G service still unavailable on most of the areas and city …………….4G still far way……Except Metrolpol Cities.

  • So Jazz is not going to renew Warid’d spectrum in 2019 and will get 10 MHz straight chunk of 1800 MHz now instead off 8.8 MHz of 1800 and 4.8 MHz of 900 on same price 2 years later. Good decision.

        • Agr koi keh deta tha k Jazz ko mily ga license to zafar bhai danda ly k us k peechy parrh jaty thy ,,,
          Abi Ahmed bhai k comment ka wait ha mujhy bus

          • Hahahahahaha bilkul. I remember him being the smart guy and making bold claims! Anyone can post those screenshots? :p

          • See now. Propakistani has updated the article and Jazz is clearly not going to renew Warid spectrum. So Jazz and Zong will become even in terms of total spectrum in 2019.
            Keep in mind that Zong is using 15 MHz 4G at most places but after 2019 Jazz wouldn’t able to use more than 10 MHz 4G unless compromising 2G.

      • I accept that I was wrong. But I still beleive Jazz get this spectrum over the price of Warid which will they have to pay in 2019. Good luck to JAZZ

        • Zafar Bhai is Telenor launching 4G on its 1800 MHz band? Because I am getting Telenor 4G signals on my Huwaei y6 || which doesn’t support Telenor 850 MHz band.

          • Same here. My set doesn’t support 850 mhz but receiving 4g signals.
            I think they are using their 3g frequencies for 4g

            • Yes telenor is refarming it’s 1800Mhz spectrum and using the freed spectrum to launch 4G in certain areas..

          • Telenor has launched 4G on 1800 MHz by refarming 3 MHz of its spectrum in Karachi and Raw/Isl. Don’t know about other areas.

                • Btw Telenor 3G speed has quite improved in Rwp/Isl.One will get constant speed of 6Mbps in peek times.

                  • Exactly! Telenor has improved a lot. I am getting constant speed between 5-6 Mbps (peak hours) and 9-13 Mbps (off-peak hours) and that too at different locations in different cities.

      • Warid bought license on same price in 2004. It wil get renew on same price.

    • What I have said you in April and i mentioned that mark my words. This was what i know since long. Jazz will get this spectrum

  • Jazz & Warid Only ???
    Sahi Kehte Hai Jazz Pakistan Number Data Network !
    telenor, Zong & Ufone, they should be participated in Next Auction, specially Ufone

  • Expected particularly Ufone to go for this one, they’ll bleed even more customers in the coming months. Sad.

    • Bhai jan jaldi ho sale hon jay ge company , zong is future of ufone
      Good b yahi rahy ga k zong k pas 0333 code aa jay

    • Zafar Bhai Jazz k lte license leny say Ufone k sale hony k chance barrh gay hein ,one more thing agr Zong purchase krti ha ufone ko to apko jaldi he news mily ge Jazz+Telenor k merge hony ke , mumkin ha k 2019 mein license renew krwany say pehly uy sara procedure complete ho jay
      Is k baad telenor aor warid ko apny licenses renew krwany ke zarorat nhi parry ge , aik aor bat 2G shutdown hony k qareeb ha before 2020 from all over the world for more info check wiki 2G

      • Jazz and Telenor can not be merged. Ask why
        And by acquiring Ufone Zong will surpass Telenor and will become 2nd largest cellular operator.

    • Telenor should buy Ufone as they will have additional 5 Mhz in 2100 MHz(total 10 mhz of 3G),6 Mhz in 1800 MHz(Telenor’s 8.8 MHz + Ufone’s 6Mhz=14.8 MHz) which will solve congestion problem on their network.

      • Zong and Telenor both are in race to buy Ufone. But probably Zong is in talks with Ufone already.

    • Ufone is focusing on its expansion in Baluchistan through USF projects, they already got Chaghi, Awaran/lasbella lot and will get Dera bugti too. Thats why they are refusing offers of sellout.

      Telenor is strong in northern areas and recently they got USF project of Kohistan that will cover areas from Khanpur (Texila) to Gilgit. Quality of telenor network going downday by day due to low quality ZTE equipment, but it is competing other telcos with its 3G coverage in northrn areas specially.

  • Hearing a lot about possible Ufone acquisition by Zong. Even a knowledgeable person working at a top notch position said so. Can any body please shed light on it?

  • So in 2019 jazz customers will face service degradation.
    Waiting for Zong to launch VOLTE

  • @@disqus_f4KOfxsOH9:disqus What is the price of renewal of Warid’s GSM and 1800 Mhz band which will expire in 2019?

  • Ufone is its own biggest enemy. Their 3g service is okay but the setup.process of packages is so pathetic. Once you subscribe, they keep on renewing it even if you try to unsubscribe. I had to call helpline to get rid of their bloody package. Also.they charge you for checking remaining mbs. Like wtf man!

    Moreover they don’t use ussd codes so the whole process is done by oldschool sms.

    They better collect their s*** together or they are on their way out of Pakistan.

    • They’re all the same man. Ufone might be a tad bit more pathetic than others. I’ve been on every network. One way or the other they are all racking in money through codes and help lines. You are right, the packages keep on self-subscribing everyday lol

  • So Ufone Jub se Estalat k pass gi hai.
    Tub se Ufone nay koi khas Position Hasil nahi Ki…
    So sad ?

  • پاکستان میں اصتعلات کو PTCL اور Ufone کے ساتھ شامل کر کے ہی بہت بڑی غلطی کی ہے۔
    کسی ایسی کمپنی کو PTCL اور Ufone کو سونپتے جو مالی طور پر مستحکم اور مضبوط ہوتی۔
    UAE بے شک ایک ترقی یافتہ ممالک میں شامل ہے
    لیکن وہ پاکستان کے مقابلے میں بہت چھوٹا ممالک ہے
    Ufone اور PTCL کے ساتھ ایسی کمپنی ہوتی جو مالی طور پر مستحکم اور مضبوط ہوتی۔۔۔۔۔۔

  • Etisalat جو ابھی تک PTCL کے بقایاجات واپس نہیں کر سکا
    وہ Ufone کو آگے لے کر کیسے چل سکتا ہے
    اور تو اور Etisalat پیسے کے چکروں میں ہے
    Ufone اور PTCL کا پاکستان میں نام تھا۔
    Ufone پاکستان کا دوسرا بڑا موبائل نیٹورک تھا
    Etisalat آتے ہی Ufone or PTCL نے اپنی پوزیشن مستحکم نہیں رکھ سکی۔۔۔۔

  • nothing special to me
    n what do we expect .??? increase in Internet bundles rates …..public service was never the main objective of any Org.. its maximizing the wealth of the share holders.. n govt income is going to panama again .. n we are at the same place again.. jeeye bhuto . go nawaz go n .. sheer ayaa. :P

    • almost all telcos are running at a loss so your rant is not based on factual reality.

  • Whether jazz renewed its warid lisence or not , still it has 2 years in hand with that warid spectrum . Till then jazz can provide 4g on 20mhz . 10mhz from old spectrum and 10mhz from upcoming spectrum .


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