The Pakistan Telecommunications Authority (PTA) announced it will grant a spectrum license to mobile operator Ufone for USD 279 million (excluding advance tax). The government will receive 50 percent upfront payment of PKR 23.44 billion within 15 days. The PTA also reports that Ufone has already paid 20 percent of this amount of PKR 9.38 billion on 9 September. Fifty percent of the total amount will be paid in 5 equal annual installments, the PTA added.
Ufone has won 9 MHz of spectrum in the 1800 MHz frequency band, which represents 70.3 percent of the total offered spectrum in this said band during the PTA auction. This increases Ufone’s total spectrum holdings from 6 MHz to 15 MHz in the 1800 MHz band. Ufone plans to use this additional spectrum to increase the quality and coverage footprint of its voice and data services.
