ISLAMABAD:
Pakistan is moving closer to launching next-generation mobile connectivity as the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority is expected to issue 5G licences to telecom operators later this week, according to officials familiar with the process.
Authorities said the licensing process for 5G technology will be completed in three stages before commercial rollout begins across the country.
In the first phase, telecom operators that successfully secured spectrum in the recent auction will be required to submit a bank guarantee to the regulator. Officials said each company must deposit a guarantee of $15 million to meet licensing requirements.
The second phase will involve formal approval of the licence by the authority, while the third stage will include technical inspection of the operators’ systems before a compliance certificate is issued.
Officials added that all three telecom companies that won spectrum in the auction will receive their licences simultaneously once the process is completed.
According to PTA officials, one telecom operator has already submitted the required bank guarantee, while the remaining two are expected to complete the process within the next couple of days.
The regulator is also planning to hold a formal licence-signing ceremony in Islamabad later this week, marking another key milestone in Pakistan’s transition to 5G connectivity.
The development comes shortly after the PTA concluded the country’s 5G spectrum auction, paving the way for faster mobile internet, improved digital services and accelerated growth in Pakistan’s digital economy.
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