An official said that once the policy is approved, the IT ministry would direct Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) to invite interested parties to invest and bring 3G technology into the country.
“Deliberations have been held at the President’s House in meetings chaired by President Asif Ali Zardari,” the official said.
The government has decided in principle to move from 2G to 3G telecom technology to upgrade its status in the IT sector.
The official said that the federal cabinet’s sub-committee, headed by Finance Minister Hafeez Shaikh, has forwarded recommendations to the prime minister, who heads the IT ministry, to introduce 3G technology in Pakistan.
Petroleum Minister Dr Asim Hussain, Water and Power Minister Naveed Qamar and Privatisation Minister Ghaus Bux Mehar are members of the committee.
He said recommendations say that 3G would have an effective economic impact as foreign investors would be interested in investing their money in development of IT. “Pakistan has huge opportunity in IT for foreign investors,” the official quoted the committee as saying.
It also said that 3G would provide employment opportunities for the youth qualified in the field of IT. The committee said that this move will help speed up e-governance projects which will strengthen government networking.
According to the official, “PTA has made all preparations in this connection and will invite interested parties through formal procedures as soon as possible.”
A source said that cellular companies and other stakeholders of the telecom sector have been waiting for this decision for long. The source said that cellular companies have made budgets for investing in 3G technology.
Developed countries adopted 3G technology years ago and now they have moved to 4G technology.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 16th, 2011.
COMMENTS (8)
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They really Should change,Already so much behind...
When the world has forgotten it and is moving forward with more advanced technology our President is now thinking about it. WOW !
we are waiting anxiously for this for 3 years,,,,,,,!
Pakistan 'had' a good opportunity couple of years ago but PTA was in hibernation for some reason; right now Investors are vary of their falling revenue and ARPU so I doubt that auctioning 3G licenses will fetch a good price...
Good news up-gradation to 3G. Today 4G/LTE costs more or less same as 3G. If the Government initiates incentive to license 4G/LTE at 50% less than the reserve royalty fee for 3G in Pakistan to facilitate the country with todays mobile computing. This will open flood gates for FDI for the openness of the Government to facilitate technology to investments in Pakistan. Incentive should be from the Government flexible regulation for very low fee/royalty for 4G LTE for countrywide deployment. We have enough broadband network on the surface i.e., fiber network. Now we are looking for frequency/specrum for the LTE which will change the fortune of the country. Good luck PTA.
3G in a 4G world. I hope the auction flops. This is just a money grabbing move by the govt.
In 2010 ,3G licence were sold in India for $14.6 billion.
Let us at what price the government "negotiates" the sale in Pakistan?