ISLAMABAD: The long awaited auction of Pakistan’s digital spectrum stayed on track after sale of 3G and 4G licences raised $1.128 billion in the auction on Wednesday, opening the door for next-generation communication technology in the country.
All the four local telecom companies, who had qualified for the economy, managed to win a slice of 3G spectrum (2100 MHz) pie put on offer. Zong though managed to claim one of the two 4G licences (1800 MHz each).
Zong was the highest bidder in the 3G auciton, claiming a 10 MHz 3G band licence, qualifying for the 4G licence.
Mobilink bagged the other 10 MHz 3G licence on the auction block. It did not bid for the 4G licence.
Ufone, which had initially bid for the 15 MHz of 3G band, got 5 Mhz band of 3G. However, due to the way it initially bid, it was disqualified for the 4G licence bid.
Telenor Pakistan won a 5 MHz 3G licence.
The government managed to raise $902.8 million from the 3G auction and another $210 million from the 4G licence auction.
Talking to media after the auction, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar said that the remaining licence in the 1800 MHz band and one license reserved for new entrants will be sold in the coming months, which would fetch additional income.
If sold, the total money raised from the spectrum auction will cross the expected revenue target of $1.3 billion.
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