Telecom: Towers to be installed in Punjab’s agricultural areas

PBIT facilitates leading telecommunication companies in resolving expansion issues..

The Punjab Board of Investment and Trade (PBIT) has facilitated leading telecommunication companies in resolving expansion-related issues in the province after major telecoms, including Mobilink, Telenor, Ufone, Warid and Zong approached the board asking for help.

A meeting of company representatives was arranged with the chief minister of Punjab, during which it was decided that the telecoms would be allowed to install base transmission service (BTS) towers in agriculture and industrial areas as well.

Previously, telecoms operating in the province were only allowed to install BTS towers in commercial areas which was hampering expansion to rural and industrial areas.

The companies are likely to install 800 to 1,100 towers in the current fiscal year, which could lead to an investment of up to $250 million.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 10^th, 2010.