ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will soon announce its long-awaited 5G spectrum policy as part of efforts to accelerate digital access and connectivity across the country, the state media reported on Wednesday.
Minister for Information Technology Shaza Fatima told the 26th meeting of the South Asia Telecommunication Regulators Council in Islamabad that the country was planning to auction more than 600 MHz of spectrum.
“The government will soon unveil the 5G spectrum policy,” she said, according to Radio Pakistan, adding that the move would “not only improve current 3G and 4G services but also introduce 5G.”
The minister said a telecom infrastructure-sharing framework had been approved and new satellite communication regulations finalized, paving the way for satellite Internet services in Pakistan.
She said the government was committed to ensuring digital inclusion and was finalizing a “Smartphones for All” policy to make mobile devices more affordable and accessible.
Reflecting on Pakistan’s digital progress, Fatima said the country had reached 200 million mobile subscribers and 150 million mobile broadband users, with data traffic rising by 70 percent over the past five years.
She added that the telecom sector had recorded 17 percent year-on-year revenue growth.
E-commerce, she said, had reached nearly $7.7 billion and was expected to cross $10 billion next year.
