3G and 4G services: Put spectrum auction on hold, says Senate panel

IT minister insists process to be completed by April 23.

ISLAMABAD:

The Senate Standing Committee on Information Technology and Telecommunication has recommended that the government withhold the auction of 3G and 4G spectrums until a third member of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) is hired.

During a rowdy session that uncovered rifts within the Pakistan Peoples Party’s ranks, some committee members insisted that the PTA could not enforce any decisions until the hiring process is complete.

Minister for Information Technology Anusha Rehman, however, said ‘the government does not agree with the committee’s recommendation’. Rehman said the auction would be completed by April 23.

The meeting of the standing committee on Thursday was convened by chairman Senator Idrees Khan Safi in order to discuss the process of the auction of 3G and 4G spectrums and any legal lacunae in the process. However, the meeting was marred by a verbal altercation between PPP senators Rehman Malik and Faisal Raza Abidi; Malik threatened to stage a walkout from the meeting if Abidi insisted on shouting and did not permit him to speak.



Pakistan lags behind its regional peers in the introduction of advanced telecom services, which subsequently hinders the growth of the services sector contributing more than half the total national output. The government seeks a minimum of $1.3 billion with the sale of three 3G licences and two 4G licences this month.

Ms Rehman questioned the timing of the meeting’s agenda, pointing out that the discussion was taking place two weeks prior to the auction. “I wish the committee would have taken up the issue in August last year and sought regular briefings subsequently,” she said.

IT ministry secretary Ikhlaq Tarar informed the committee that of three PTA board members, two – member technical and member finance – have been appointed on the recommendations of an independent commission. The commission has shortlisted two names for the remaining position – member compliance and enforcement – and the post will be advertised once more in order to seek the best candidate, Tarar said.

Meanwhile, following the SC’s observation, the post is temporarily occupied by the ministry of law secretary. Tarar said that according to the PTA Reorganisation Act of 1996, majority members of the PTA are able to enforce decisions.

The committee members also objected to the government’s move to finalize policy guidelines by the Auction Supervisory Committee, headed by Finance Minister Ishaq Dar. Ms Rehman argued that as per the Constitution, powers to determine policy guidelines rest with the prime minister or a nominated federal minister.

The supervisory committee had served its purpose and the PTA is now responsible for transparency in the auction process, Rehman said.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 11^th, 2014.