A.Rafay
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ISLAMABAD: The government on Tuesday approved the appointment of consultants for the completion of auction of much-awaited Third Generation (3G) technology by mid January 2013.
The Auction Supervisory Committee (ASC) led by Finance Minister Dr Abdul Hafeez Sheikh has approved hiring of consultant advisory group comprising of three international experts belonging to Australia, Canada and UK for accomplishing the task of auctioning 3G technology, said Chairman Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) Farooq Awan while addressing a news conference here.
In last one year, the government failed two times for selection of consultants. First time, during the tenure of former chairman PTA efforts were made to accomplish auction of 3G without appointment of consultants and second time the ASC rejected offers of all three bidders on the basis of technical and financial bidding.
However, in third and last effort, the ASC finalized selection of three consultants by hiring them to pay fee on monthly basis for next three months with the expectation that this transaction would be done within the desired time limit.
Flanked by Advisor to Minister of Information Technology (MoIT) Dr Basit Riaz Sheikh and Secretary MoIT on the hurriedly called news conference after ASC meeting held with minister for finance in the chair, the chairman PTA said the auction of 3G would be completed by mid January 2013, as the consultants would be assigned to come up with issuing of information memorandum till first week of next month.
We will arrange road shows in Far East, Europe and Middle East in order to attract potential investors towards this crucial transaction for Pakistan, which is essential to curb the balance of payment crisis, he said.
He said that the government assigned preparation of software to one consultant in order to ensure transparency.
The chairman PTA said that the government would allow new operators to come and invest in 3G technology.
The advisor to MoIT said that keeping in view model of Thailand auction for 3G where offered spectrum was more than Pakistan, there should be expectation of receiving around 900 million dollars, adding but it depends upon various factors including size of the market and overall market situation.
The auction of 3G will ensure one billion dollar investments in infrastructure development and around 30,000 to 40,000 jobs will be created, he said and added that the government would also establish oversight committee comprising media persons and international observers to ensure transparency in this deal.
With two assignments for devising spectrum advisor and regulations, the ASC approved selection of Dr Rob Nicholas who is hailing from Australia. His services have been hired for three month on the basis of 65,000 dollars per month.
For auction design, the ASC approved selection of Denis Ward with monthly fee payment of 60,000 dollars.
Martin Smith has been hired for preparation of auction related software and his fee would be standing at 56,660 dollars per month.
The overall cost of consultancy fee for three months will be standing at 545,000 dollars as the government had already incurred more cost on advertisements in last failed efforts for selection of consultant, said the PTA chairman.
Consultants hired to complete 3G auction - thenews.com.pk
The Auction Supervisory Committee (ASC) led by Finance Minister Dr Abdul Hafeez Sheikh has approved hiring of consultant advisory group comprising of three international experts belonging to Australia, Canada and UK for accomplishing the task of auctioning 3G technology, said Chairman Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) Farooq Awan while addressing a news conference here.
In last one year, the government failed two times for selection of consultants. First time, during the tenure of former chairman PTA efforts were made to accomplish auction of 3G without appointment of consultants and second time the ASC rejected offers of all three bidders on the basis of technical and financial bidding.
However, in third and last effort, the ASC finalized selection of three consultants by hiring them to pay fee on monthly basis for next three months with the expectation that this transaction would be done within the desired time limit.
Flanked by Advisor to Minister of Information Technology (MoIT) Dr Basit Riaz Sheikh and Secretary MoIT on the hurriedly called news conference after ASC meeting held with minister for finance in the chair, the chairman PTA said the auction of 3G would be completed by mid January 2013, as the consultants would be assigned to come up with issuing of information memorandum till first week of next month.
We will arrange road shows in Far East, Europe and Middle East in order to attract potential investors towards this crucial transaction for Pakistan, which is essential to curb the balance of payment crisis, he said.
He said that the government assigned preparation of software to one consultant in order to ensure transparency.
The chairman PTA said that the government would allow new operators to come and invest in 3G technology.
The advisor to MoIT said that keeping in view model of Thailand auction for 3G where offered spectrum was more than Pakistan, there should be expectation of receiving around 900 million dollars, adding but it depends upon various factors including size of the market and overall market situation.
The auction of 3G will ensure one billion dollar investments in infrastructure development and around 30,000 to 40,000 jobs will be created, he said and added that the government would also establish oversight committee comprising media persons and international observers to ensure transparency in this deal.
With two assignments for devising spectrum advisor and regulations, the ASC approved selection of Dr Rob Nicholas who is hailing from Australia. His services have been hired for three month on the basis of 65,000 dollars per month.
For auction design, the ASC approved selection of Denis Ward with monthly fee payment of 60,000 dollars.
Martin Smith has been hired for preparation of auction related software and his fee would be standing at 56,660 dollars per month.
The overall cost of consultancy fee for three months will be standing at 545,000 dollars as the government had already incurred more cost on advertisements in last failed efforts for selection of consultant, said the PTA chairman.
Consultants hired to complete 3G auction - thenews.com.pk
