The government is all set to create a regulatory framework for Internet ofThings (IoT) as its potential impact on individuals and businesses raisesregulatory requirements such as licensing, numbering and addressing,spectrum management, network standards, data protection, privacy andsecurity, says Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA).
In view of the latest trends of IoT and 5G, PTA has created an industryworking group. The aim of this working group is primarily to foresee theIoT future developments in Pakistan and to evaluate and recommend thepossible regulatory options (requirements in terms of spectrum, dataprotection /privacy, roaming, numbering /addressing, devicestandardization/type approval, etc).
The Authority has sought comments and views of the members of the PTA,industry working group on IoT, the concerned industry, and the generalpublic, on the issues and challenges of IoT for the formulation of theregulatory framework for the country.
In Pakistan, international & national ICT firms are in the early stages ofdeveloping innovative services using IoT technology. Some of IoT use casesinclude advanced metering infrastructure with automated meter reading inreal-time or near-time two-way communication, smartdevices/sensors/actuators, smart farming, health care solutions, smartgrids and connected agriculture. Most of these applications are currentlybeing provided through cellular networks.
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However, there is a need to formulate a comprehensive regulatory frameworkelaborating requirements for developments of the IoT ecosystem in licensedas well as unlicensed bands. Some of the frequency bands for unlicensed IoThave been proposed by the Frequency Allocation Board (FAB).
IoT is the fastest-growing phenomenon worldwide with certain countrieshaving implemented it with light-touch regulations.