Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08ISLAMABAD690
2008-02-16 04:44:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Islamabad
Cable title:
PAKISTAN TO BEGIN 3G LICENSING
how-toVZCZCXRO0205 RR RUEHLH RUEHPW DE RUEHIL #0690 0470444 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 160444Z FEB 08 FM AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 5151 INFO RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 2818 RUEHDO/AMEMBASSY DOHA 1495 RUEHKP/AMCONSUL KARACHI 8965 RUEHLH/AMCONSUL LAHORE 4833 RUEHPW/AMCONSUL PESHAWAR 3527
C O N F I D E N T I A L ISLAMABAD 000690
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/28/2018
TAGS: ECON ECPS EIND EINT PREL PK
SUBJECT: PAKISTAN TO BEGIN 3G LICENSING
Classified By: Ambassador Anne W. Patterson, Reasons 1.4 (b),(d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L ISLAMABAD 000690
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/28/2018
TAGS: ECON ECPS EIND EINT PREL PK
SUBJECT: PAKISTAN TO BEGIN 3G LICENSING
Classified By: Ambassador Anne W. Patterson, Reasons 1.4 (b),(d)
1. (C) SUMMARY: The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority has
announced that it will begin third-generation (3G) mobile phone
licensing this year. Three licenses will be auctioned off, but only
the five current mobile phone operators in Pakistan will be permitted
to bid. By offering 3G licenses, Pakistan is positioning itself to
be a regional leader in wireless broadband services. End Summary.
1. (U) The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) will start 3G
mobile phone licensing this year. 3G will allow mobile phone
customers to access high speed internet and other data services from
their mobile phones. Auction of the spectrum through competitive
bidding is expected in mid-2008, and operators acquiring licenses
through auction are expected to launch 3G services by the end of
2008. With an estimated 77 million mobile phone subscribers, 2.1
million Wireless Local Loop (WLL),and 4.7 million fixed line
customers, Pakistan is a potentially lucrative market for 3G
services.
2. (C) Aslam Shahab, Director of Licensing at the PTA, confirmed that
the 3G licensing process has begun internally. The Frequency
Allocation Board is in the process of clearing the core 3G
band/spectrum at 2100 MHz. The spectrum is arranged in blocks of 5
MHz which will be auctioned off. The PTA will hold a seminar for the
telecommunications industry in March 2008, and they will hold the
license auction in June 2008. Mr. Shahab said that only the five
existing mobile operators, Telenor Pakistan (majority Norwegian
owned),Pakistan Mobile Communication Ltd (PMCL/Mobilink),PTML
(Ufone; partially owned by Etisalat in the UAE),Warid Telecom (based
in UAE and parent company of Wateen telecom) and China Mobile
Pakistan (CMPak/Paktel) will be permitted to bid. Only three of the
five will be granted licenses.
3. (C) COMMENT: Telenor, Mobilink and Warid Telecom are the strongest
candidates for the 3G licenses. Warid is the parent company of
Wateen, which is one of the two companies rolling out Wimax services
in Pakistan. Wateen has partnered with Motorola on its Wimax
project. The preparation for 3G license auctioning shows that the
GOP continues to bet that Pakistan's telecoms industry will continue
to boom. 3G will also give the winners an opportunity to market
additional services in Pakistan's increasingly competitive telecoms
market. Together with the launch of Wimax services, Pakistan intends
to position itself as a regional leader in wireless broadband
services. End comment.
PATTERSON
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/28/2018
TAGS: ECON ECPS EIND EINT PREL PK
SUBJECT: PAKISTAN TO BEGIN 3G LICENSING
Classified By: Ambassador Anne W. Patterson, Reasons 1.4 (b),(d)
1. (C) SUMMARY: The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority has
announced that it will begin third-generation (3G) mobile phone
licensing this year. Three licenses will be auctioned off, but only
the five current mobile phone operators in Pakistan will be permitted
to bid. By offering 3G licenses, Pakistan is positioning itself to
be a regional leader in wireless broadband services. End Summary.
1. (U) The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) will start 3G
mobile phone licensing this year. 3G will allow mobile phone
customers to access high speed internet and other data services from
their mobile phones. Auction of the spectrum through competitive
bidding is expected in mid-2008, and operators acquiring licenses
through auction are expected to launch 3G services by the end of
2008. With an estimated 77 million mobile phone subscribers, 2.1
million Wireless Local Loop (WLL),and 4.7 million fixed line
customers, Pakistan is a potentially lucrative market for 3G
services.
2. (C) Aslam Shahab, Director of Licensing at the PTA, confirmed that
the 3G licensing process has begun internally. The Frequency
Allocation Board is in the process of clearing the core 3G
band/spectrum at 2100 MHz. The spectrum is arranged in blocks of 5
MHz which will be auctioned off. The PTA will hold a seminar for the
telecommunications industry in March 2008, and they will hold the
license auction in June 2008. Mr. Shahab said that only the five
existing mobile operators, Telenor Pakistan (majority Norwegian
owned),Pakistan Mobile Communication Ltd (PMCL/Mobilink),PTML
(Ufone; partially owned by Etisalat in the UAE),Warid Telecom (based
in UAE and parent company of Wateen telecom) and China Mobile
Pakistan (CMPak/Paktel) will be permitted to bid. Only three of the
five will be granted licenses.
3. (C) COMMENT: Telenor, Mobilink and Warid Telecom are the strongest
candidates for the 3G licenses. Warid is the parent company of
Wateen, which is one of the two companies rolling out Wimax services
in Pakistan. Wateen has partnered with Motorola on its Wimax
project. The preparation for 3G license auctioning shows that the
GOP continues to bet that Pakistan's telecoms industry will continue
to boom. 3G will also give the winners an opportunity to market
additional services in Pakistan's increasingly competitive telecoms
market. Together with the launch of Wimax services, Pakistan intends
to position itself as a regional leader in wireless broadband
services. End comment.
PATTERSON