PTA to itself decide about license renewal applications by July 15. IHC

ISLAMABAD ( MEDIA REPORT )

Islamabad High Court (IHC) disposed off a petition of mobile operators on the terms of license renewal and directed Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) to itself decide about license renewal applications by July 15.

Chief Justice IHC Athar Minallah while hearing the case asked mobile operators to appear before the PTA on June 25.

The court also observed that mobile companies can also file an appeal after the PTA decision on their applications for renewal of licenses. The Court issued these directives following the consensus among the council of mobile operators and PTA.

Lawyer Hamid Khan and Lawyer Munawar Iqbal appeared before the court on behalf of mobile operators and PTA respectively. The IHC Chief forwarded the matter to PTA and disposed off.

The cellular mobile licenses of Pakistan Mobile Communications Limited (ex Warid/Jazz) and Telenor Pakistan Limited (Telenor) were due to expire on May 25, 2019, and were due for renewal. The license of China Mobile Pakistan (CMPak Zong) is due for renewal on October 22, 2019.

However, Jazz and Telenor had approached the IHC to decide on the terms of license renewal in an equitable, fair and transparent way.

According to the Jazz statement, they sought to have the license renewed as per the terms of its license and the telecom policy of 2015.

Cellular licences were issued by PTA to two cellular mobile operators i.e. M/s Telenor Pakistan and M/s Warid Telecom on May 26, 2004, for a period of 15 years, under the Mobile Cellular Policy, 2004, on payment of $291 million after the auction. The cellular licence of M/s Paktel Limited now China Mobile Pakistan (Zong) was also renewed by PTA under the 2004 Policy on October 23, 2004, for a period of 15 years on payment of $291 million.