The launch of Pakistan’s much-anticipated 5G spectrum within a mereten-month timeframe is a feat that appears to be increasingly improbable,owing to certain significant challenges. This revelation emerged recently,shedding light on the reluctance of local mobile operators to invest in 5Glicenses, primarily due to the nation’s precarious economic situation.Initially, the Caretaker Federal Minister for IT and Telecommunication, Dr.Umar Saif, had optimistically announced a 10-month timeline for theintroduction of 5G services in Pakistan.
This development came to the fore following a pivotal meeting between Dr.Saif and Chairman of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), MajGen (R) Hafeezur Rehman. During their discussions, various intricateaspects of telecommunications were scrutinized, including the impending 5Gauction and spectrum allocation.
However, inside sources from the telecom industry have revealed a starkreality: local mobile operators are hesitant to procure 5G licenses due tothe continuous depreciation of the Rupee against the Dollar and theinadequacy of technological infrastructure to support 5G spectrumdeployment within the nation.
Adding to these woes, a lack of purchasing power among consumers isevident, as they struggle to afford 5G-compatible handsets due to theburden of higher taxes and import restrictions. Furthermore, the federalMinistry of IT and Telecommunications has thus far failed to introduce aconcrete 5G policy for the auctioning of licenses essential for theutilization of this spectrum.
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Notably, Pakistan has lagged behind many other countries in the global raceto launch 5G services, amplifying the urgency of addressing thesemultifaceted challenges.
Ironically, the Ministry of IT and Telecom had previously announced itsintention to unveil 5G services by mid-2023, even as it sought to attractforeign investors. Nonetheless, the daunting economic realities andtechnological deficiencies cast a shadow over this ambitious timeline,underscoring the need for a comprehensive and timely resolution to theseissues
