Government to auction 300MHz spectrum to expand fiber optic network
islamabad:
Interim Federal Minister of Information Technology and Telecommunications Dr. Umar Saif announced on Monday that 5G services will be launched in Pakistan by July-August 2024, with the government planning to auction 300MHz of spectrum.
Before the launch of 5G, Pakistan’s fiber optic network needs to be expanded. Currently, only 6,000 mobile towers out of about 56,000 across the country are connected to fiber optic cables.
The Minister highlighted the steps taken by the Ministry for the development of the IT industry over the past five months, especially the establishment of the Telecommunications Tribunal to meet the long-standing demands of the industry. Speaking at the Mobile Summit, Saif revealed that Pakistan has exported around 250,000 mobile phones and earned around $200 million. In the past two years, around 9 million mobile phones worth around $1.5 billion have been assembled in the country. The minister added that currently around 35 different brands are actively contributing to the local mobile phone manufacturing industry.
He highlighted efforts to expand smartphone exports, stressing that the government aims to achieve an ambitious target of $500 million in the next two years and $5 billion in five years. He informed the audience that efforts were being made to produce some components locally, with the goal of eventually manufacturing fully assembled mobile phones domestically.
He spoke about the advances in the IT and electronics industry over the past three years and called for the formulation of policies for these sectors. He revealed that the government has decided to give mobile phone manufacturers a 3% research and development (R&D) allowance starting next fiscal year. This allowance is expected to increase from 3% to 8% in the next few years.
The move is in line with the government’s broader strategy to strengthen the technology sector and promote self-sufficiency in electronics production.
read Committee launched for 5G auction
“For effective implementation of the right of way policy, the Special Investment Facilitation Council removed hurdles in all sectors and all decisions were approved without delay in the interest of the country,” the minister said.
He pointed out that under the country’s first space policy, international companies will be allowed to provide communications services via low-orbit satellites. Satellite communication technology is rapidly advancing, and many private companies around the world want to provide communication services via low-orbit satellites. “Satellites used to be stationary far from land. They are useful for broadcasting television signals, but the delay makes communication difficult,” he elaborated.
Saif emphasized that communications and internet services can be provided through relatively nearby low-orbit satellites. “There is a lot of development going on in this regard in the private sector.”
Pakistan Mobile Summit, Pakistan’s first mobile conference, was attended by top industry leaders.
Speaking on the occasion, Julian Gorman, Head of GSMA APA, said:
“As the 5G era continues to expand around the world, it is imperative for Pakistan to modernize its policies to support and revitalize the telecommunications industry. We are committed to a supportive regulatory environment coupled with strategic policies. We strongly believe that this will not only promote a healthy and competitive telecommunications sector but also contribute significantly to Pakistan’s digital transformation journey.”
Published in The Express Tribune on January 30thth2024.
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