The Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication (MoITT) has issued new policy instructions to Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) for renewal of telecom licence.
As, the three cellular companies licenses including Warid/Jazz and Telenor Pakistan are going to expire on May 25, 2019, while the license of Zong will expire on October 22, 2019.
According to the new policy draft, the PTA has set per megahertz (MHz) prices for the frequency spectrum in 900 MHz at $39.5 million and 1,800 MHz at $29.5 million. In total, these spectrum prices add up to $450 million for each company.
The new licenses will be applicable for 15-year time frame like the old ones. Moreover, PTA has given the cellular companies the option of paying the renewal fee in dollars or in Pakistani rupees, which will be calculated at the market exchange rate applicable at the time of payment.
The new licenses directive will be technology unbiased, which means that on these licences the cellular companies can run any technology they want.
The telecom companies will have to pay the license fee in one month, i.e. by June 25, otherwise, they will be charged with a balanced amount in addition to legal action.