How
can one mobile operator to offer 4G services without increasing costs, while
others have to pay the government over $ 200 million to run the same service?
Warid
Telecom, the telecommunications sector surprise when it announced plans to
launch 4G services without bidding auction last month. Zong , who was
advertising itself as the “first and only " company to offer 4G services
in Pakistan , is particularly affected . Zong said that it will take about a
year to launch 4G services , but Warid seems ready to "go 4G " in a
relatively short period of time. Dawn last day.
According
to the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), all five mobile service providers
were originally allocated frequencies from 1800 MHz spectrum in order to launch
their services. This spectrum has now been allocated to provide 4G services.
However,
unlike Warid - which has at least participants from all networks - other
service providers overloaded their bandwidth by adding millions of subscribers
over the years.
This
would also explain the connection problems and slow internet speeds for its
customers.
According
to PTA spokesman, “They need more bandwidth - or bigger space - to accommodate
a larger number of participants, as well as provide high speed data services.”
PTA
Report 2013 states that Mobilink has the highest number of participants, with a
market share of 30 per cent.Telenor too, is ranked among the companies with the
largest number of subscribers and a market share of nearly 25 percent. However,
Warid has the lowest number of participants with 10 percent market share.
"The
spectrum must depend on the business plan of the company, plans to increase the
customer base and financial health of the company, thus licensing costs.
Besides Warid, which has room for adding more participants without increasing
its bandwidth, it makes good business sense for the other operators to increase
bandwidth in order to improve voice and data services, as well as providing the
next generation of mobile services and remain competitive, " said PTA spokesman,
he explains why Warid remained from 3G/4G license auction last month.
However,
when approached Warid PTA last month with the desire to launch 4G services, PTA
responded through a statement that the aim of the new spectrum could offer
faster broadband / data services. Therefore, you need new parameters and
performance indicators.
"On
the basis of the PTA says that if Warid is inclined to offer 4G on existing
licensing agreements and spectrum, the Authority will have to look into the
license agreement and bring Warid under similar conditions to the auction winner.
PTA
is interested in learning how to Warid will use existing spectrum. Technical
details with regard to 4G services must be shared and agreed PTA, “the
spokesman said.
PTA
also argues that “Warid’s existing license is technologically neutral, but does
not provide the quality of service (QoS) parameters and key performance
indicators (KPI) for 4G services.”
PTA
spokesman said that Warid will have to be in accordance with the parameters,
KPIs and QoS provided by the authority when it comes to 4G services.
“Our
services 4G/LTE by Warid will have to go through the process according to their
license, as well as requirements to ensure proper coverage, quality of service,
enhanced monitoring requirements, etc. This may result in changes to the
existing mobile phone service license Warid," said.
Industry
analyst explained how Warid is well within its legal rights to launch 4G in the
existing 1800 MHz spectrum.
"Other
mobile companies can also go to 4G; they have the same bandwidth from a single spectrum.
The problem Warid face is the limited bandwidth, “said Internet Service
Providers Association of Pakistan convener Wahajus Siraj.
"Around
the world, the license is technology-neutral, because it is constantly
changing. Nevertheless, services may be regulated to set standards to ensure
quality of service, “he added.
The
perception in the market is that China Mobile ( Zong ) has emerged as the
largest operator after winning the maximum spectrum auction, and was unlikely
to lose its position as the dominant player in the future . China Mobile
Speaker, Sheldon Godinho said: "We expect a level playing field for all.”
Other
operators are mostly affected Warid offers 4G services, because the technology
is too expensive and are choosing instead to launch 3G services and strive for
faster 4G services in the next five years.
“Our
analysis shows that there is greater penetration of 3G handsets in comparison
with 4G mobile phones among mobile data customers in the industry, so we
adapted accordingly.
Looking
at the different options in the future, when the government announced its
intention to auction the remaining 4G spectrum, “said a spokesman for Mobilink
Omar Manzoor.