Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has informed the Senate Committee for Computer Science and Telecommunications that the 5G Spectrum auction is faced with several challenges. The PTA highlighted the need for a wider spectrum for 5G services, while also stressing key questions concerning its implementation.
On Thursday, a meeting of the Senate IT and telecommunications committee took place in Parliament. PTA officials informed the 5G auction policy committee, stressing the requirement of a political directive of the government for the new spectrum.
The officials noted that a trial for 5G had been approved in 2017 and that an advisory committee was trained to supervise progress in this regard.
According to PTA officials, a consultant was hired in November from last year to help 5G spectrum planning, and a report has already been submitted. They explained that 5G requires an additional spectrum, but noted that several challenges must be met.
The decision concerning the 5G spectrum would take into account the involvement of three or four key players on the market.
IT ministry officials shared with the Committee that even after the launch of 5G, not all users are able to immediately move to 5G services, although the spectrum would improve the speeds of 3G and 4G networks. Currently, there are three categories of groups available for the use of telecommunications in Pakistan.
In addition, officials of the Universal Service Fund (USF) have informed the telecommunications project progress committee in rural areas in the past three years.
They said the USF’s mandate was to provide telecommunications services to poorly served areas. Over the past three years, 63 projects have been carried out in rural regions, providing essential services to various villages.
However, Senator Humayun Mehmood has raised concerns about complaints from Balutchistan areas, to which USF officials responded by citing security problems that have led to service interruptions in certain regions. They also recognized the challenges in carrying out projects in the north and southern Waziristan.
The chairman of the committee has also investigated the cause of internet disruptions on the highway. USF officials have assured that the PTA is currently tackling the problem, the work already underway to solve it.
