Two-Month Countdown to 5G Begins: IT Minister Defends Rising Mobile Package Rates

A crucial meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on IT and Telecom took place today. Senator Palwasha Khan chaired the session. The committee focused on the burning issue of the recent hike in data and call package rates by mobile companies. The Federal Minister for IT, Shaza Fatima, also revealed updates about the 5G Auction in Pakistan.

During the discussion, Minister Shaza Fatima acknowledged the public outcry. She noted that reports regarding mobile and internet package pricing have surfaced on social media. However, she defended the current pricing structure.

Despite the concerns regarding rising costs, Federal Minister Shaza Fatima maintained a firm stance. She stated that Pakistan’s mobile internet falls under the category of the cheapest internet in the world.

Furthermore, she added that, overall, internet packages in Pakistan are significantly lower compared to global rates. This statement comes amidst growing discussions on affordability in the tech sector.

5G Auction & Spectrum Updates

Moving toward future developments, the Minister shared a major update for the telecom industry. She announced that the government is officially proceeding with the 5G auction.

Clarifying the timeline, Shaza Fatima stated that the spectrum auction process will take a maximum of two months. This sets a clear deadline for the highly anticipated upgrade to next-generation connectivity.

PTA Chairman on Minimum Rates

The Chairman of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) also weighed in on the pricing debate. He informed the committee that the cheapest package currently available to consumers costs 147 Rupees.

In a candid moment, the Chairman shared his personal usage habits as well. He revealed:

I myself am using Jazz’s Gold Value package.