ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The Pakistan Telecommunications Mobile Limited (Ufone) has won the Spectrum Auction for Next Generation Mobile Services in Pakistan 2021 organized by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA).
In a statement on Friday, the PTA said that in accordance with the timelines mentioned in Information Memorandum (IM) for Spectrum Auction for Next Generation Mobile Services in Pakistan 2021, the opening of application & sealed bid offers from the prospective applicants were completed on September 9, 2021
The PTA received bid from PTML (Ufone), after scrutiny of submitted bid, the PTA declared the PTML as winner of the auction process.
This will generate the revenue of US$ 279 million (excluding advance tax).
The PTA said that the government will receive 50% upfront payment of Rs 23.44 billion within 15 days; out of which 20% of the said amount i.e Rs 9.38 billion has already been received on September 9, 2021. The remaining 50% will be paid in 5 equal annual installments.
The PTA said that the total Spectrum won by Ufone is 9 MHz in 1800 MHz band which is 70.3% of the total offered spectrum in the said band during the current auction. This addition will increase Ufone spectrum holdings from 6 MHz to 15 MHz in 1800 MHz band.
This will help Ufone to provide enhanced quality and increase coverage footprint for Voice and Data services.
The PTA completed the auction process with assistance of internationally reputed consultant Frontier Economics who was onboard since January 2021, and conducted thorough consultation with cellular industry and other stakeholders.
Furthermore, the government of Pakistan constituted the Auction Advisory Committee in October 2020 under the Chairmanship of Finance Minister.
The Ministry of Information Technology & Telecom (MoIT&T) issued the Policy Directive on August 4, 2021 under which the process was completed.
The license will be issued to Ufone which includes enhanced Network rollout obligations and Quality of Service standards to ensure consumers interest.
