A seminar on 5G technology was recently held in Islamabad, where the Chairman of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), Major General (R) Hafeez Ur Rehman, addressed telecom experts from Malaysia. He welcomed their insights and shared that Malaysia, after successfully launching 5G, is now advancing towards 5.5G. Pakistan plans to leverage Malaysia’s experience to fast-track its own 5G deployment.
The PTA Chairman announced that the auction for 5G spectrum will take place in April or May, acknowledging the delays Pakistan has faced in rolling out the technology.
Minister of State for IT, Shaza Fatima Khawaja, also addressed the seminar, highlighting the internet connectivity issues faced in Pakistan. She explained that network pressure sometimes causes disruptions but assured that the upcoming spectrum auction in early April will help mitigate these challenges. The Minister further revealed that legal hurdles had delayed several megahertz of spectrum for over 20 years, and after the auction, both 5G and 4G services would see significant improvements.
In her address, Minister Shaza Fatima also announced that the world’s largest submarine cable has reached Pakistan and will soon become operational. She noted that additional submarine cables may be introduced to enhance internet connectivity and emphasized Pakistan’s commitment to a nationwide digital transformation. With 5G technology, global GDP is predicted to rise by $1.3 trillion, and Pakistan aims to capitalize on this opportunity.
Pakistan’s current internet connectivity operates on 274 MHz spectrum, covering over half of the country. This will improve post-auction, positioning Pakistan as a leader in internet connectivity. The government plans to use the Wakhan Corridor to connect Pakistan with Central Asia, and the IT export target of $25 billion is set to be achieved with enhanced connectivity. IT exports, which currently stand at $3.2 billion, are expected to rise to $15 billion in the near future.
