Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication has notified formation of an advisory committee to auction 5G telecom service across the country.
The committee, headed by Finance Minister Shaukat Tarin, would consist of 13 members. It will include Minister for IT and Telecommunications Syed Amin ul Haque, Minister for Science and Technology Shibli Faraz and officials of some other key institutions.
Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication Syed Amin-ul-Haque said:
“The mandate of the committee would be to approve a ‘Strategic Plan’ for launch of 5G service after review.”
The minister said that:
“The Ministry will consult stakeholders, especially telecom companies for the strategic plan. Afterwards, the committee would approve 5G spectrum auction procedure in light of consultant’s suggestions.”
Moreover, Amin Ul Haque said:
“The Ministry will make 5G spectrum auction workable keeping in view the concerns of telecom sector.”
Further, Minister for IT & Telecommunication said that:
“The ministry is making efforts to launch 5G services by the end of 2022 in 5 major cities.”
Previously, Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) had set a target to launch 5G commercially by the end of this year.
The authority will complete various stages before commercial launch. It includes the issuance of a strategic plan, the hiring of the consultant for the auction process, finalization of policy directives, and the finalization of incentives in the upcoming finance bill.
In a draft on the “5G Strategic Plan and Policy Guideline,” the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication (MoIT&T) has rolled out its tentative plan for launching 5G technology in Pakistan.
Ministry updated its plans after feedback and consultation with the market players and various ministries and authorities in this regard. The spectrum assignment shall continue to be technology-neutral. Ministry of IT and Telecommunication (MoIT&T) may review the Right of Way policy to facilitate telecom network deployment.
