Pakistani telecommunications services provider Warid Telecom will need to submit a new request to the Pakistan Telecommunications Authority (PTA) and introduce changes in its current telecoms licence in order to launch 4G services in the country, PTA said in a release. Warid recently sent a request to the PTA asking for authorization to launch 4G services through existing spectrum in the 1,800 MHz band. A spokersperson at the PTA said that Warid Telecom's valid licence is technology neutral but is not service neutral, which means the company would have to share all the technical details of the service prior to obtaining authorization for the launch of 4G.
The spokesperson also said Warid Telecom's licence does not include any quality of service (QoS) parameters and service key performance indicators (KPIs) for 4G services. The source added that these indicators and parameters should be included in the licence. To achieve this, the operator should send a new request to the authorities as well as the technical plan with all the details of the planned service and the amount of spectrum to be used.
Local mobile operators Mobilink, Telenor and Ufone recently obtained licences for the provision of 3G services while mobile company Zong obtained spectrum for 3G and 4G services. Warid Telecom did not take part in this spectrum auction.
