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Islamabad: The Senate Standing Committee on IT and Telecom, under the leadership of Senator Palwasha Khan, convened a key meeting to evaluate Pakistan’s 5G action plan and the obstacles delaying its implementation.
During the session, Chairman PTA, Major General (Retd) Hafeez ur Rehman, along with officials from the Universal Service Fund (USF), provided an in-depth briefing on the current progress and challenges in rolling out the next-generation technology.
A policy directive for the allocation of 5G spectrum is required by the government, according to PTA officials. Several technical and regulatory challenges remain unresolved, and 5G requires a substantially greater amount of spectrum than previous technologies, they emphasized.
PTA has received a report from a consultant it employed in November, and an advisory committee is currently engaged in the development of a 5G implementation strategy. The ultimate decision regarding spectrum allocation will be based on market dynamics, with the objective of preserving three to four key participants in the telecommunications industry.
The USF officials also provided the committee with a briefing on their mandate to provide telecommunications services in rural and remote regions. Over the past three years, 63 initiatives have been completed, providing connectivity to underserved regions. As a result of security concerns, challenges continue to exist in regions such as North and South Waziristan.
Senator Humayun Mohmand highlighted the frequent service disruptions, which were also the subject of complaints from Balochistan. These issues were ascribed by USF officials to security concerns, which frequently necessitate the temporary closing of services.
Motorway Internet Connectivity Concerns
At the committee meeting, members deliberated on the ongoing disruption of service along motorways due to internet outages. PTA guaranteed that their team is diligently working to resolve the issue while simultaneously improving network connectivity.
According to Senator Saifullah Niazi, the USF should proactively monitor network issues in order to ensure that vehicle passengers have uninterrupted access. This monitoring will allow for fast responses.
While steps are being taken to enhance connectivity, significant gaps remain. Policymakers must act decisively to overcome these hurdles and drive Pakistan towards a more digitally connected future.
