ISLAMABAD

Pakistan’s telecom regulator, Pakistan Telecommunication Authority, has raised alarm over growing disruptions in mobile and internet services caused by prolonged electricity load-shedding and soaring fuel prices, according to official sources.

The regulator has submitted a set of key recommendations to the Ministry of IT and other stakeholders, stressing the need for immediate policy intervention to ensure continuity of telecom services across the country.

Sources said the PTA has called for telecom infrastructure to be granted exemption from load-shedding, highlighting that uninterrupted connectivity is critical for economic activity, emergency response, and digital services.

The authority has also urged power distribution companies to provide telecom towers with dedicated “express feeders” to ensure an uninterrupted electricity supply. Delays in provisioning such feeders have already begun to impact cellular services in multiple regions, the PTA noted.

“Reliance solely on backup systems during extended outages is not sustainable,” officials said, adding that diesel and other backup fuel sources are quickly depleted during prolonged power cuts.

The situation is further aggravated by rising fuel prices, which have significantly increased operational costs for telecom operators, making service continuity more challenging.

In addition, the PTA has recommended that the government approve industrial electricity tariffs for the telecom sector to ease financial pressure and support infrastructure stability.

Following these recommendations, the Ministry of IT has reportedly initiated consultations with electricity distribution companies, seeking priority, uninterrupted power supply for critical telecom sites.

The PTA emphasized that ensuring reliable telecom services will require strong coordination at the industrial level and proactive government support to mitigate the ongoing crisis.