The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority has directed WorldCall Telecom Limited to pay Rs 70 million in lieu of licence fee by June 30, otherwise its frequency spectrum would be withdrawn.
The Authority, in its determination on June 20, ordered the company to pay off the remaining 50 percent amount of the initial spectrum fee ie Rs 71,000,000 by June 30 as the said amount is overdue since long.
In case of the licensee''s failure, the frequency spectrum of 479MHz will stand withdrawn, which could be assigned afresh to any other service provider as per prevailing laws and policies, it added.
It said that the company was awarded non-exclusive Wireless Local Loop (WLL) Licence in 2004 to provide services in 14 regions and to establish, maintain and operate a telecommunication system on the terms and conditions contained in the licence.
Under licence conditions, the company was to pay remaining amount of ISF in February 2005. Despite relaxation of about 15 months, the licensee did not pay the said amount and the company''s failure to comply with the directions of PTA resulted in issuance of the notice. The licensee had participated in the bidding process separately for two frequencies and had got the said frequencies against auctioning winning price the licensee itself had chosen and offered, meaning thereby that the licensee had the clear understanding that both said frequencies were separate and distinct which, in fact, the case is, as opposed to the stance of the licensee, it said.
After hearing the licensee at length the simple query the licensee was asked was whether it had not agreed under the terms and conditions of the licence to pay the remaining 50 percent of initial spectrum fee of Rs 71,000,000 on or before February 18, 2005 which date was later extended till May 31, 2006.
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