Pakistan telecom industry not ready for 3G/4G auction !

ISLAMABAD ( ABRAR MUSTAFA )
Pakistan’s push to hold a 3G/4G spectrum auction will likely be delayed by at least 12 months after the consultant hired by the telecoms regulator reportedly determined the market is not ready for another auction.
The consultant, InterConnect Communications, met with the country’s five mobile operators and other stakeholders and submitted its report to the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority’s (PTA) evaluation committee for review.
We have post earlier that Pakistan Telecom Authority is now in a pickle. With the announcement by Mobilink and Warid to merge the companies, it seems that any chance of auction for 3G/4G is now over.

(Related: Read Telecoalert.com’s previously reported news here.)

Telecom companies that had earlier told the regulatory authority that they were not interested in investing in another auction as the economic situation of the telecom sector was not favorable for them. However with the merger between Mobilink and Warid, it seems that the situation is now completely unfavorable for anyone to invest.
Firstly Mobilink will be getting 4G LTE license with the complete subscribers of Warid. This makes it not only the leading telecom company in the country but also helps the company to get lead from Zong by becoming second company to have 3G and 4G license.

(Related: Telecoalert.com’s already published news story.)

Secondly Zong has been angry with PTA for some time as they have been complaining to the regulatory body that it has not received what was promised to it.
These factors are not going to help PTA which was aiming for another auction. In fact according to reports, TelecoAlert.com has learned that Government of Pakistan has now removed the auction from the books as a possible revenue source.

Telecoalert.com earlier post news about Cellulars reservations about their economic issues.
The Cellulars clear telecom authority that it might not possible for existing Operators to commit any investment in the spectrum auction unless the mentioned problems are addressed on priority basis. These reservation and serious concern shown collectively in joint letter to PTA.
The Cellulars Mobile Industry had committed a very major investment in the NGMS auction held in April 2014. During the auction process it was assured by the Government of Pakistan that the major challenges faced by the Industry will be addressed on priority basis. However we regret to inform that all the promises made during the auction process remain unfulfilled till date