All Four Operators Bag 3G Spectrum, While Only Zong Took Home 4G license

ISLAMABAD: To boost Pakistan’s digital economy, the government on Wednesday began the sale of 3G and 4G licences to cellular service providers. Available to citizens of more than 160 countries, the decade-old technology is auctioned to four major telecom companies with government aiming to raise up to $1.3 billion. Since the auction process was terminated prematurely on three different occasions in the past, the event is seen by all segments of the society as a historical moment. Talking to media after the auction, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar said that the government has one more segment in 1800 MHz band and one license reserved for new entrants, which would fetch additional income.