Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) on Wednesday arranged open bidding for awarding frequency of Wireless Local Loop (WLL) licences for Faisalabad and Central Telecom Region.
PTA Chairman Major General Shahzada Alam Malik (Retd) presided over the bidding process, while Member Finance Nehmatullah Toor and Member Technical Naseem Ahmed Vohra assisted him.
Bidding for both Faisalabad Telecom Region (FTR) and Central Telecom Region (CTR) was held in 1.9 GHz, 450 MHz, 479 MHz and 3.5 GHz.
The bidding was held in two rounds. According to the laid down criteria, 70 percent of the top bidders of the first round of bidding were allowed to participate in the second round.
Spectrum was allocated to the highest bidders according to their priority, while other bidders declared successful for the second round were asked to give the matching price for the grant of frequency subject to availability of spectrum and requirements of the bidders.
In the spectrum of 1.9 GHz of FTR, three blocks of 5 MHz each were available, which were allocated to PTCL at the highest bid of Rs 425 million. WorldCall Telephony and Telecard later matched the offer. In 450 MHz of the same region, out of three carriers of 1.25 MHz each, two carriers were accorded to PTCL, which gave the highest bid of Rs 67 million for each carrier.
The third carrier in the same band was allotted to DVCOM Ltd, which agreed to pay the matching cost. In the spectrum of 479 MHz in the same Region, only one block of 5 MHz was available, which was auctioned to WorldCall Telephony at the highest bid of Rs 3 million.
In the spectrum of 3.5 GHz, seven blocks of 10.5 MHz each were available, which were allocated to Telecard at the highest bid of Rs 4 million, while Burraq Telecom, Warid WLL, PTCL, Microtech Links, Sachal Technical Services and Zarco Telecommunication agreed to match the highest bid for the grant of spectrum.
In the CTR region comprising Sheikhupura, Sahiwal, Pakpattan, Okara and Kasur, three blocks of 5 MHz each were available in the spectrum of 1.9 GHz, which were allocated to DVCOM, which gave the highest bid of Rs 121 million and WorldCall Telephony and PTCL on payment of the matching price.
In the spectrum of 450 MHz in the same region, two carriers of 1.25 MHz each were available, which were allocated to the highest bidder, DVCOM at Rs 36 million and the second carrier was accorded to Telecard on the matching cost.
In the spectrum of 479 MHz in CTR Region, only one block of 5 MHz was available, which was allocated to the only applicant, Telecard at base price of Rs 1.3 million.
In the spectrum of 3.5 GHz in the same region, out of seven blocks of 10.5 MHz each, four blocks were allocated to each Telecard, WorldCall Telephony, Burraq Telecom and Warid WLL (Pvt) Ltd at base price of Rs 580,000.
Telecom experts and professionals, representatives of media and telecom industry and government officials witnessed the bidding.
The bidding of WLL spectrum will continue till August 21 with the exception of Sunday and gazetted holidays.
PTA Chairman Shahzada Alam Malik said that it was for the first time that an open and transparent bidding for spectrum allocation was being held in the country.
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