Pakistan to test 5G mobile internet by 2020

PTA says applications will be floated to gauge interest

KARACHI: Pakistan is set to test the most advanced mobile internet, 5G, by the year 2020, as the telecom regulator works towards setting technical standards and inviting applications from mobile operators for the spectrum award.

"The government would facilitate all existing as well as new companies to test 5G in Pakistan. The facilitation would be in the form of free test licence and spectrum," said Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) Chairman Dr Syed Ismail Shah at a workshop in Islamabad.

"Harmonised spectrum for 5G is [available] in the 3.5 GHz band," he informed participants at the workshop, according to a PTA handout.

"An EoI [Expression of Interest or invite for applications] would be floated at a suitable time to gauge interest in conducting a trial before the standard is finalised in the year 2020," he said.



Currently, 5G mobile broadband is not available in any country. However, the US, UK, China and South Korea have set 2020 as their deadline to launch the service.

Shah said that the government has always encouraged new ideas and supported initiatives for the use of technology.

He added that the PTA and Ministry of Information and Technology (MoIT) are working on several fronts to increase the access of broadband technologies to far-flung areas of Pakistan, and improve the quality of service and quality of experience while keeping pace with the modern technologies.

The PTA and Ministry of IT and Telecom Division in collaboration with Qualcomm Pakistan organised the one-day workshop on 'Technology Evolution & Roadmap to 5G' in Islamabad.



Minister of State for IT Anusha Rahman has also on several occasions stated that Pakistan would be among the first few countries in South Asia to have 5G services.

The workshop was arranged to take steps toward introducing the latest technologies in line with the vision of the government of Pakistan.

Another speaker Khalid Barghouti talked about evolution, tests, trials and development of 5G technologies in various countries.

"Some countries have even declared access to broadband as a basic human right," he said.