The auction for mobile telephony spectrum is expected to be held in June, and consultants have expressed optimism that it will be successful because of the potential available in Pakistan.
On Thursday, The briefing was made by a consultant at a meeting of the advisory committee for the release of Next Generation Mobile Services (NGMS) spectrum at the Finance Division, chaired by Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Shaukat Tarin.
The committee approved the recommendations for the sale of the spectrum during the meeting, and the consultant would hold meetings with the stakeholders in the next round, and forward the brief related to the auction process.
In the next step the consultant will forward the ‘information memorandum’ containing the details of procedures related to the auction.
1,800 and 2,100 MHz bands to be put on sale
The IT minister informed the committee the sale of spectrum was the key to strengthen and expand communication/IT services across the country.
The committee was briefed by the consultant for spectrum auction of 1,800 MHz and 2,100 MHz bands.
The committee was informed that the “Spectrum Auction Pakistan 2020-21” was focused on regulatory consistency for the investors and increases the mobile broadband proliferation that will also have an impact on the overall economic growth of Pakistan.
The consultant expressed the confidence that there was significant potential for the growth of broadband and telephony across Pakistan and the existing four cellular companies were eager to obtain additional spectrum to harness the growth opportunities.
