ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) is all set to grant licence for establishing, maintaining and operating a licenced system, for provision of Fixed Satellite Services (FSS) in the country.
Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the licence, the licencee would be authorised for the provisioning of services including fixed earth station; fixed gateway earth station, fixed terminal earth station and associated terrestrial transmission facilities, only to connect its gateway earth station with public network.
The licencee shall commence the provision of licenced services, within 18 months from the effective date.
The licencee shall pay Initial Licence Fee (“ILF”) $500,000 (or equivalent amount in PKR) to the authority prior to the effective date.
The Annual Licence Fee (ALF) to the authority in an amount equivalent to 0.5 percent of the Licencee’s Annual Gross Revenue from Licenced Services for the relevant financial year, minus inter-operator costs and related PTA/FAB mandated payments.
In the case of PTA/FAB mandated payments including contributions, this deduction will be allowed only if these amounts have actually been paid and not on an accrual basis. However, payment of initial licence fee, initial spectrum fee, any amount paid/payable to foreign carriers, collection charges, late payment additional fee, penalties and other expenses imposed by the authority, if any, shall not be deducted from the gross revenue.
The licencee shall pay a Universal Service Fund (USF) contribution, an amount equivalent to 1.5 per cent of the Licencee’s Annual Gross Revenue from Licenced Services for the relevant financial year, minus inter-operator costs and related PTA/FAB mandated payments. In the case of PTA/FAB mandated payments including contributions, this deduction will be allowed only if these amounts have actually been paid and not on an accrual basis. However, payment of Initial licence fee, initial spectrum fee, any amount paid/payable to foreign carriers, collection charges, late payment additional fee, penalties and other expenses imposed by the authority, if any, shall not be deducted from the gross revenue.
The licencee shall pay annual radio frequency spectrum fee, in an amount equivalent to 0.5 percent of the Licencee’s Annual Gross Revenue from Licenced Services for the relevant financial year.
The licencee shall pay one time registration fee as per following details:- a. USD 1,500 or equivalent amount in PKR for registration of each Fixed Gateway Earth Station; b. USD 1,000 or equivalent amount in PKR for registration of each Fixed Earth Station/Fixed Hub Station; For clarity, aforementioned fees at Sub-Para a and b is not applicable to Fixed Terminal Earth Stations.
This licence does not authorise the following; establishment, maintenance, and operation of a Public Switched Network that consists exclusively of terrestrial elements or facilities; Provision of any Telecommunication Services exclusively using terrestrial network elements or facilities; Establishment, maintenance and operation of the Licenced System on vessel, aircraft, vehicle or any other moving object(s); Provision of Mobile Satellite Service; Distribution of radio or television programming; Broadcasting of radio or television programming; Such other activities or telecommunication services as the Authority may, by regulation, prohibit.
This licence is subject to the terms and conditions contained herein and to the Act, rules, policies and regulations respectively. In the event of any conflict or inconsistency between the provisions of this Licence, and the provisions of the Act, Rules, policies or regulations, the provisions of the Act, rules, policies and regulations shall prevail.
Licencee shall abide by the Pakistan Space Activities Rules, 2024, and its subsequent amendments and shall ensure that the licenced system shall be in compliance with the Regulations, Guidelines, Instructions, Procedures and orders issued by the PSARB from time to time.
The licencee shall register its Fixed Earth Station, Fixed Gateway Earth Station and VSAT with the Authority prior to; installation or any change of location. All transmissions in the fixed satellite service must be terminated prior to any change of location, unless operating under a specific exemption authorized by the Authority. The licencee shall establish, maintain and operate its Licenced System to provide the Licenced Services, in compliance with the laws of Pakistan.
The licencee shall at all times co-operate with the Authority and its authorised representatives in the exercise of the powers, functions and responsibilities assigned to the authority under the Act. The licencee shall comply with all orders, determinations, directions and decisions of the authority. The licencee shall not enter into any contract, agreement or other arrangement which is, in any way, inconsistent with any obligations of this licence or requirements placed upon the licencee under this Licence, the Act, Policies, the Rules or Regulations. Any such contract agreement or other arrangements shall, to that extent, be void.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
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