Auction of 3G licence likely to delay further

Posted By Ismail Ziker on Jul 2, 2013 | 0 comments

The new generation technology 3G that is being delayed since long will take several months more to be launched as the government is unable to form any policy regarding the new technology in the absence of Chairman Pakistan Telecom Authority. It is pertinent to mention here that the posts of PTA Chairman and two other top level members of the authority are still vacant and in the absence of these officials no further advancement on 3G can be made.
As per constitution of PTA, without Chairman the authority is nothing and can take no important policy level decision regarding anything.
Chairman’s post is vacant since January 15, 2013 whereas the posts for Member Finance and Member Technical are awaiting appointment since January 21, 2013 and March 15, 2013 respectively. Practically PTA is unable to take any kind of regulatory decision since there is no Chairman of Authority.
Officials from Ministry of Information Technology and Pakistan Telecom Authority said that no advancement had been made in terms of launching or policy making for 3G technology. Director General Extensions Pakistan Telecom Authority Sajjad Latif categorically said that only PTA had the authority to take any policy level decision regarding issuing of licences and this could not be done without the presence of Chairman and other members mentioned above.
But he said that State Minister for Ministry of Information Technology Anusha Rehman was heard to be very active these days. She was holding meetings with the stake holders on daily basis to make the process more transparent. But still she could not take decisions beyond a certain limits.
Sajjad Latif said that PTA had advertised the posts and was receiving applications. It might take 3 or 4 weeks to fill these seats and then PTA would be again able to take part in the policy making process for the issuance of licences. He also said that at the moment PTA was even facing difficulties in the implementation of already made policies.

via Nation.com.pk