Govt to Consult Telcos CEOs Prior to 5G Spectrum Auction

In a recent meeting chaired by Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, the Auction Advisory Committee resolved to engage with the telecom companies’ Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) before the 5G spectrum auction. The meeting yesterday focused on reviewing the progress related to the upcoming 5G spectrum auction. Officials from the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) informed the committee that the deadline for submitting expressions of interest (EOI) is set for July 15. This auction cycle marks the first instance where the PTA has utilized the new e-system developed by the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA). The E-PADS system, created with assistance from the World Bank, aims to ensure a transparent application and bidding process. Sources told ProPakistani that  PTA officials emphasized that no company will be able to upload EOIs after the 12 pm deadline on July 15. Post-deadline, the PTA will proceed to download and review the submitted applications. Following this review, the PTA will solicit technical and financial bids from eligible companies using the same electronic system. The PTA estimates that evaluating these technical and financial bids will require approximately two months. The Auction Advisory Committee has expressed satisfaction with the proposed timelines and the PTA’s adherence to these deadlines, instructing that the entire process be executed within the established schedule. The committee also sought insights into the telecom industry’s stance on the 5G auction. Officials from the Ministry of IT reported that all telecom operators have expressed interest in participating. Consequently, the committee intends to convene a meeting with the CEOs of these telecom operators in the coming days to gain a deeper understanding of the industry’s perspectives and address any concerns. The Ministry of IT and PTA have been assigned the responsibility of arranging this forthcoming meeting.