In 2014, Pakistan auctioned its first 4G broadband license to China’s Zong for $210 million, along with 3G licences to Zong, the UAE’s Ufone and domestic Mobilink.

The total raised in the auction was $1.2 billion.

In the first quarter of last year, smartphone shipments to the country soared by 123 per cent, according to the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority’s annual report.

That was one of the fastest growth rates in the developing world.

Since then broadband use has exploded, with the number of users growing to 29 million from a mere 1.9 million – a higher percentage than India, Nepal and Bangladesh.

PTA had auctioned the licence to local and international telecom companies, with Telenor winning the bid.

“The licence for 850-megahertz band will be awarded on base price of $395 million in accordance with the schedule,” an internal statement from PTA said.

“The licence will be awarded to Telenor within 30 days of payment,” it added.

Telenor Pakistan is 100 per cent owned by Norway’s Telenor Group, one of the largest mobile operators in the world.