By our correspondent
ISLAMABAD: The Senate Standing Committee on Information Technology and Telecom was informed on Thursday that the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) is facing multiple hurdles in launching 5G internet services in the country, with key challenges including spectrum allocation and government policy directives.
During the committee meeting, chaired by Senator Palwasha Khan, PTA officials acknowledged that while the rollout of 5G would enhance internet speeds, not all subscribers would immediately transition to 5G. Instead, the launch would also improve the performance of existing 3G and 4G services. The PTA is expected to make a final decision on 5G deployment while considering the market players’ readiness.
The officials further explained that 5G requires additional spectrum, which has yet to be allocated. A policy directive from the federal government is essential before an auction can take place. They noted that a 5G trial was allowed in 2017, and since then, an advisory committee has been working on its implementation. In November 2023, the PTA hired a consultant, who has now submitted a report on 5G spectrum allocation and market viability.
Representatives from the Ministry of IT added that three frequency bands are currently available in Pakistan for 5G services. However, they reiterated that not all users would migrate to 5G immediately, as it would take time for widespread adoption. However, Senator Humayun Mohmand raised concerns about telecom disruptions in parts of Balochistan, to which USF officials responded that security challenges were responsible for service outages in some areas.
