The announcement comes a day after expressions of interest for the licences were due. Previously the auction of the 3G licences and the former Instaphone licence was expected to place in late March.

According to a report, the regulator was forced to delay after it failed to get government clearance to proceed without hiring a consultant.

The deadline for consultants to apply has been set at 26 March, meaning the PTA will not be ready for the first auction as originally planned on 26 March.