Only Ufone in race for additional spectrum

Published September 10, 2021
The base price for 1800 and 2100 mega hertz (MHz) has been set at $31m and $29m, respectively. — Reuters
The base price for 1800 and 2100 mega hertz (MHz) has been set at $31m and $29m, respectively. — Reuters

ISLAMABAD: The country’s top three mobile companies — Jazz, Telenor and Zong 4G — have decided to stay away from the Sept 16 auction of additional spectrum, leaving only Ufone in the field as the last date to submit the bids in this regard expired on Thursday.

As the three major players have stayed away from the bidding process citing different reasons, Ufone will be able to obtain additional spectrum at the base price due to lack of competitors.

The base price for 1800 and 2100 mega hertz (MHz) has been set at $31m and $29m, respectively, for each megahertz spectrum.

But on the other hand the government earnings in this regard will only be limited to around $132m, with around $74.4m for 1800 MHz and $58m for 2100 MHz, because the terms of the auction allows each Cellular Mobile Operator (CMO) to acquire only up to 40 per cent of their existing spectrum.

Other three major players opt not to participate in bidding process

The Ufone currently has 6MHz spectrum in 1800 band and 5MHz in the 2100 band.

However, after obtaining the additional spectrum Ufone will also be able to provide improved telephony and broadband services to its consumers and also expand its services to several under-served areas.

Responding to queries over reasons for staying away from the bidding process, a Jazz spokesperson in a statement said that it was the number one 4G operator and the largest internet and broadband service provider in the country with 47.2 MHz of spectrum, which was sufficient to meet the demand for existing service.

“Jazz weighs all investment opportunities, but after careful assessment of the spectrum auction 2021, the company has decided not to participate in it,” the spokesperson of the company has said.

It added that in the last two years Jazz has invested over $560m towards expansion of 4G network mainly in rural and semi urban areas while the company has invested over $9.6 billion in Pakistan.

Similarly, Telenor Pakistan in a statement said that mobile connectivity was essential for socioeconomic progress and the availability of adequate spectrum at reasonable price and conditions was of fundamental importance.

“We have been closely following the spectrum auction process, and after a thorough and careful assessment, we have decided not to participate in the auction,” the Telenor official said, adding that the existing circumstances do not present the economic viability to invest in the spectrum auction.

However, Zong 4G did not issue any statement regarding their boycott of the auction process, but sources in the company has cited reasons, similar to the ones stated by Telenor Pakistan and Jazz.

Harsh bidding terms

The CMOs have blamed the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) for amending the terms and conditions just 10 days ahead of deadline to submit the bids and said that the rigid stance of PTA led to several issues.

Sources in the industry have said that the Information Memorandum (IM) was revised on Aug 31, and several restrictions were imposed on the CMOs.

A senior official of the telecom industry said that the companies have repeatedly informed the PTA that since the earnings of CMOs are in local currency, the auction should be in rupees only and not in US dollar, which has appreciated by 66pc against rupee since 2017.

Among the serious concerns expressed by the CMOs was the requirement to open an ‘escrow’ account by the mobile companies and to deposit 50pc of the disputed amount in case of financial disagreement with the PTA.

The CMOs have also objected to another requirement introduced in the revised IM that the mobile operators will have to increase the average download data rate to 4 mbps from the existing of 2 mbps in two years.

The mobile companies told the PTA that the additional spectrum was auctioned for a period of 15 years but the terms and conditions were amended after 3-4 years, there has to be a long-term policy in the country.

Interestingly, there is a history of distortions in the spectrum auctions in Pakistan and only one bidder has remained in the field during the last three auctions.

While only Ufone will be the buyer for additional spectrum in 2021, Jazz was the only player in 2017 auction winning 10 MHz spectrum of 1800 band for $295m, and in 2016 PTA received a single bid from Telenor Pakistan for spectrum auction.

Published in Dawn, September 10th, 2021

Follow Dawn Business on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook for insights on business, finance and tech from Pakistan and across the world.

Opinion

Editorial

Judiciary’s SOS
Updated 28 Mar, 2024

Judiciary’s SOS

The ball is now in CJP Isa’s court, and he will feel pressure to take action.
Data protection
28 Mar, 2024

Data protection

WHAT do we want? Data protection laws. When do we want them? Immediately. Without delay, if we are to prevent ...
Selling humans
28 Mar, 2024

Selling humans

HUMAN traders feed off economic distress; they peddle promises of a better life to the impoverished who, mired in...
New terror wave
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

New terror wave

The time has come for decisive government action against militancy.
Development costs
27 Mar, 2024

Development costs

A HEFTY escalation of 30pc in the cost of ongoing federal development schemes is one of the many decisions where the...
Aitchison controversy
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

Aitchison controversy

It is hoped that higher authorities realise that politics and nepotism have no place in schools.