The 3G Auction bidding date was announced by PTA in an Information Memorandum 2012 (IM) as March 29th, may delay from it schedule.
In last week PTA give an advertisement for Expressio of Interest ()EoI from telecom consultants from all over the world was put on display at PTA’s website. PTA has set the last date of submitting (EoI) as March 26th whereas, it will take another 20 to 30 days successful consulting firms are selected for assisting PTA for the 3G spectrum licensing.
Here it is interesting to note that, as per IM issued by PTA, bidders or interesting cellular operators for taking part in auction will be qualified March 12, 2012 before they can participating in bidding process on March 29th. At this moment , IM seems to be clashing with PTA’s latest decision of hiring consultants for finalizing ‘credible telecom operators’ and create a complete road map of licensing process which may differ all together with the earlier strategy highlighted in IM 2012.
An official from a leading telecom operator commented on the situation that, “It appears impossible that PTA would be able to hire a consultant firm before schedule bidding date. It is likely that bidding process will take place a month or two after consultants have been hired. In such a case, 3G auction date may be extended till May-June 2012”.
When it was asked to PTA’s spokesperson then he said that, the 3G auction will take place as per scheduled mentioned in IM 2012 on Mobile Cellular Licence/Spectrum Auction(3G/4G/LTE etc.).
