Auction for 3G licences: PTA likely to hire consultant of international repute soon

Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) is likely to hire a consultant of international repute soon after scrutinising the proposals of international and national firms who have expressed an interest to work as consultant for auction of the 3G spectrums, it is learnt.
Official sources revealed that 65 international as well as national companies and consortia had submitted their proposals by September 13, in response to an advertisement released by PTA seeking a consultant to auction 3G spectrums. The scrutiny of these proposals will be completed in 15 days after which final decision will be taken regarding the appointment of consultant, sources maintained.
PTA advertised the RFP (Request for Proposal) for the consultancy services of 3G spectrum auction on August 13, in international as well as in national media. The Authority sought proposals from interested companies/consortia as per parameters laid down in the RFP, within 30 days from the date of publication of the advertisement. The technical and financial proposals were also sought to be submitted in a single package containing two separate sealed envelopes, marked as Financial Proposal and Technical Proposal with a non-refundable processing fee of 1,000 dollars.
Earlier, hiring of local consultant by the Auction Supervisory Committee (ASC) had raised serious issues of transparency which, in turn, mounted pressure on the government to delay the auction. Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf directed Ministry of Information Technology and PTA to immediately advertise the post of consultant to accelerate the process of auction of 3G licenses. On August 13, PTA reinitiated the process to hire consultant of international repute for the smooth process of 3G license auction.
PTA intends to engage the services of a consultancy firm of international repute for the auction of mobile cellular license/spectrum. Consultant will assist the client on all steps necessary in making the auctions a success in terms of marketing, valuation, process design and transparency to provide maximum value to the client.
The consultant is required to have expertise and experience of mobile cellular license/spectrum auction along with relevant financial, economic, technical, legal and regulatory experience, spectrum valuation, spectrum auction design, process management for 3G and beyond technologies/services and concluding transactions of similar nature.
Responsibilities of the consultant include: (a) conducting technical, commercial and legal due diligence related to the proposed transaction including review of the existing policy, documents, processes and all other matters ancillary thereto; (b) preparing information documents for dissemination of timely and accurate information to stakeholders and potential investors; and (c) assisting the client in designing and conducting auction in a transparent manner while averting collusion and ensuring competition.