PTA Shortlists Consultants for the Sale of Additional Spectrum - Android

The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has shortlisted seven consultants/consulting firms after technical evaluations for the calculation of the base price/benchmark… Read More

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The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has shortlisted seven consultants/consulting firms after technical evaluations for the calculation of the base price/benchmark for cellular license renewal and additional spectrum auction in 1800 and 2100 MHz bands.

The short-listed applicants will proceed to the financial evaluation stage and the consultancy will be awarded to the lowest bidder based on the evaluation criteria as mentioned in the Request for Proposal (RFP).

Sources familiar with the matter told ProPakistani that the consultant/firm will be hired this week.

The PTA had set 30 October 2020 as the deadline for the submission of bids for the hiring of consultants for the spectrum auction and license renewal, and later extended it to 30 November.

It received favorable responses and around seven consulting firms (almost all of which are international firms) applied against the RFP. The auction committee evaluated their technical bids and all the firms have qualified for the next stage of financial bids.

The telecom authority has initiated the process of auctioning the available spectrum from 1800 and 2100 MHz bands to cellular mobile phone operators aimed at improving the quality of services and generating revenue. The auction drive titled ‘Spectrum Auction Pakistan 2020-21’ is focused on regulatory consistency for the investors, mobile broadband proliferation, and the future sustainability of the cellular mobile communication sector with an overall economic growth of Pakistan.

The consultant(s)/consulting firm(s) will carry out the assignment in light of the detailed RFP which includes but not limited to:

• Cellular license renewal
• Additional spectrum auction
• Spectrum rationalization plan

The objective of the consultancy is to devise a strategy for existing mobile cellular license renewal; an additional spectrum auction in 1800 and 2100 MHz bands in the light of international best practices suited for the telecom market; focused on regulatory consistency for the investors, mobile broadband proliferation, and future sustainability of cellular sector with an overall economic growth of the region.

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Furthermore, the consultancy is aimed at spectrum pricing benchmarks for renewal and auction with future projections that are aimed at achieving overall economic growth and incentivizing foreign investments while considering the impact of past benchmarks and other relevant factors.

One of the objectives is also a spectrum rationalization/re-adjustment plan with the objective to maximize efficient spectrum utilization in line with international best practices for the assigned spectrum. The aim will be to assign the spectrum in a manner that will make a block size of contiguous frequencies by re-farming existing assignments to make standardized block sizes.

Moreover, a transparent and competitive spectrum auction plan with an optimal outcome, promoting mobile broadband proliferation, growth of cellular services, and prevention of collusion among the bidders is also required as per the consultancy assignment.

The strategic vision of the PTA is to create a fair regulatory regime to promote investment, encourage competition, protect consumer interests, and to ensure high-quality Information & Communication Technology (ICT) services.

The scope of work will include:

• Conducting a study or an assessment of the available/assigned spectrum in 900, 1800, and 2100 MHz in Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJK) and Gilgit-Baltistan (GB); an international best practice on spectrum auctions/renewals and assignments while keeping in view the aspects.
• Consultation with relevant stakeholders including Cellular Mobile Operators, relevant governments, and Frequency Allocation Board (FAB) HQs to assess the telecom market and its regulatory, financial, and technical opportunities/challenges as specified.

It will also require the development of policy recommendations for cellular license renewal and spectrum auction methodology comprising terms and conditions of licenses to be renewed, an auction design, a spectrum base price, a rationalization plan, and any other relevant terms and conditions.

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