3G, LTE auction scheduled for April 23: Spectrum Advisory Committee

Companies to submit sealed bids by April 14, 2014, to the PTA.

The spectrum auction advisory committee on Thursday announced that the auction for 3G and 4G (LTE) services had been set for April 23, 2014.

The committee met under the supervision of Finance Minister Ishaq Dar at the Finance Ministry on Thursday, a statement said.

Chairman Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) Dr Syed Ismail Shah briefed the committee on the progress made so far on the auction of spectrum licenses. He said that the authority will receive sealed bids by April 14, 2014.

Dar stressed that PTA should ensure that the best international standards for the auction and added that the whole process should be completed with transparency. PTA was also directed by the committee to launch a public awareness campaign about the auction and the services.

Later, CEOs of several cellular mobile operators met with the committee and gave their suggestions regarding the information memorandum draft. They expressed satisfaction over the auction process.