Pakistan is planning to issue 3G licenses to potential operators through an open auction in October this year, reported Reuters while citing unnamed Pakistani government officials.
According to Reuters report, which more looks like a tipped story says, a committee of the federal cabinet has agreed in principle to launch 3G services as soon as possible without any conditions – agency citied a source who is directly handling the 3G license auction.
Citing another source, without naming it, report says that the Economic Coordination Committee is expected to green-light the auction in the first week of August. The auctions are expected to be held in mid to late October.
The officials did not say if the licenses would be offered to the existing telecoms operators, or include others. A PTA official said it would probably be only for those already operating in Pakistan.
3G in Pakistan recently hit the spotlight when Federal Minister for Finance Dr. Hafeez Shaikh told the media that 3G license policy have made it’s way to federal cabinet for final official approvals.
Pakistani officials have been promising 3G license auction in the past but deadlines were never met, mainly due to resistance from local operators who think that 3G isn’t viable business case in Pakistan with rock bottom ARPU and high opex.
