The government will reserve a spectrum license for new entrants
The Pakistani government expects to hold an auction for 850 MHz spectrum before a separate auction for spectrum in the 1800 MHz band, local press reports.
The decision was made during a meeting headed by finance minister Ishaq Dar during which government officials reviewed demand and a market assessment report prepared by international consultants.
According to the government, both the 3G and 4G auctions will generate 65 billion rupees ($620.7 million) in the current financial year.
The authorities also plan to reserve one license and a block for potential new market entrants as part of the government’s efforts to attract more competition into the mobile market.
In 2014, the government raised more than $1.1 billion in an auction for 3G and 4G licenses. Mobile operator Zong obtained 10 megahertz of spectrum in the 1800 MHz band and another 10 megahertz in the 2.1 GHz band.
Rival operator Mobilink obtained 10 megahertz in the 2.1 GHz band. Ufone and Telenor had won each five megahertz in the 2.1 GHz band.
Taiwan Star Cellular launches LTE services
In other APAC news, Taiwanese mobile telephony operator Taiwan Star Cellular has commercially launched 4G LTE services.
According to local press reports, the telco is launching the technology in the 2.6 GHz band. Taiwan Star Cellular obtained 40 megahertz in the 2.6 GHz band in an auction which took place in December 2015.
Taiwan Star is using carrier aggregation (CA) technology to combine this spectrum with additional spectrum in the 900 MHz band.
Taiwan Star announced plans to deploy additional 900 MHz base stations across Taiwan, while installing 2.6 GHz-compatible sites in metropolitan areas. The telco also aims to start testing small cell devices.
Rival operators Chungwha Telecom and Far EasTone (FET) had already launched commercial 4G LTE services through spectrum in the 2.6GHz band.
