Mobile operators to share infrastructure
The MoUs will be valid for an initial term of three years and may be extended with mutual consent of the parties, upon expiration of the initial term.
The MoUs signed by all five mobile operators are aimed at boosting the current pace of infrastructure-sharing among cellular mobile and Wireless Local Loop (WLL) operators and to increase the overall industry tenancy ratio to a reasonable level.
The parties anticipate that this cooperation will support mutual interests, international best practices, public convenience and decreased capital costs.
According to the MoUs, the parties have agreed that the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) on infrastructure-sharing will be followed in letter and spirit, subject to technical and commercial considerations.
PTA will facilitate the processing of infrastructure-sharing cases to the extent possible within its jurisdiction.
Each operator with other industry players will put in its best efforts to take up its own and overall industry’s tenancy ratio to the level of 1.5 within the next three years with yearly benchmarks of 1.1 and 1.3 for first and second years respectively, provided that the same is technically feasible for the operator.
The tenancy ratio means the number of operators sharing one tower.
If a tower is used by more than one operator it would improve tenancy ratio hence decreasing the number of towers installed across the country.
Presently, the tenancy ratio is 1.02 which means out of every 100 towers only two are shared by operators. If the ratio increases to 1.5 as expected it would mean that 50 out of every 100 towers are shared by operators.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 7th, 2010.
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