3G auction: Telecom companies start test run

With 3G auction around the corner, telecom companies have started the test run of faster mobile communications after a formal approval from cabinet division as purposed by Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) and Frequency Allocation Board (FAB).

This test run of 1 month will allow the companies to fine tune their already installed equipment for next generation of mobile communications and will also allow them to assess the worth of this technology, helping them to come up with a bidding price. Three out of the five current telecom companies are using this trail period to check the video quality and download speed being received in major cities of the country. Next in the check list of trial period comes the connectivity and voice quality giving companies an insight to the viability of these services on newly offered spectrum.

According to a news report, a telecom company has already installed more than 7,500 towers in the country that support 3G technology. Pakistan government has high expectations from this auction of new age technologies as they carry huge prospects of not only rising about $2 billion which will boost foreign reserves but will also become source of higher revenue in the form of taxation based revenue.

3G Technology to finally launch in Pakistan

Pakistan plans to auction licenses by March to run third- and fourth-generation mobile-phone networks, with both existing and new operators eligible to bid, the country’s telecommunications regulator chief said. Pakistan Telecommunication Authority has hired Value Partners Management Consulting to advise on the sale, including the base price and number of licenses to be auctioned for a 15-year term In a meeting of the Spectrum Auction Advisory Supervisory Committee Thursday 30 jan reviewed the process of “Spectrum Auction” for next generation mobile network and expressed satisfaction over the progress on this count.It has been decided that Road shows would also be conducted next month ahead of auction for 3G spectrum license in March this year.Finance Minister Ishaq Dar chaired the meeting of the Spectrum Auction Advisory Supervisory Committee held here.The meeting was told that “Information Memorandum” would also be issued next month