April 22, 2014

Warid CEO meets Chairman PTA:

The Chairman PTA Dr. Syed Ismail Shah held a meeting with Mr. Muneer Farooqui, CEO Warid Telecom in Pakistan. The meeting was held to discuss the reports of Warid Telecom launching 4G services without participating in Next Generation Mobile Services Award (NGMSA). It was clarified that Warid does not intend to immediately launch such service. Although the existing license of Warid is technology neutral, it would properly seek PTA’s consent. PTA will look into such a request based on the license conditions and in the best interest of the cellular industry at large and the bidders participating in the 3G/4G spectrum auction.

Chairman PTA informed that offer of 4G/LTE services by the existing licensee will have to go through a process as per their license as well as requirements of assuring proper coverage and quality of service, enhanced monitoring requirements and commencement permission by PTA. The Chairman also used this occasion to inform that auction of 23rd April 2014 will dispel all impression about lack of interest of bidders in 3G/4G spectrum.

He also assured the CEO Warid Telecom that as a regulatory body they would continue supporting Warid Telecom a subsidiary of Abu Dhabi Group which is one of the largest foreign investor in Pakistan.

 

(Khurram Ali Mehran)

Director (PR)