When the PTA auctioned off 3G and 4G network licenses, on April 23, Warid telecom did not take part, but four Pakistani mobile operators -- Mobilink, Telenor, Ufone and Zong -- did qualify for 3G and 4G.

Warid previously already obtained enough spectrum to allow for a 4G rollout. PTA sources said that the telecom authority held a meeting, on Monday, to review a Warid request and decided that the application for 4G service was not as required, dawn.com reports.

A PTA spokesperson said that the telecommunications regulator is looking at Warid’s request in relation to the license and the regulatory framework. The company\'s current license is technology neutral but is not service neutral, meaning it will have to share all details of its new services prior to starting.