KARACHI: Pakistan is on the verge of testing the most high-end mobile internet technology, 5G, by the start of the year 2020, as the telecommunication regulator toils towards setting technological standards and engaging applications from mobile operatives for the spectrum award.
Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) Chairman Dr Syed Ismail Shah at a seminar in Islamabad said “The government would assist all existing as well as new companies to trial 5G in Pakistan. The facilitation would be in the form of free test license and spectrum.”
According to a PTA handout, he informed participants at the workshop that “Harmonized spectrum for 5G Mobile Internet is [available] in the 3.5 GHz band.”
“An EoI [Expression of Interest or invite for applicants] would be hovered at an appropriate time to measure interest in conducting an examination before the standard is confirmed in the year 2020,” Shah added.
Presently, the 5G mobile broadband is unavailable in any country. Nevertheless, US, UK, China and South Korea are setting 2020 as their goal to initiate the service.
Shah stated that the government has always promoted new initiatives and encouraged proposals for the use of technology.
Read more: Telenor and Huawei Conduct Successful 5G Tests
Shah added that the PTA and Ministry of Information and Technology (MOIT) are currently making efforts on numerous fronts to augment the admittance of broadband technologies to remote areas of the country, and develop the quality of service and quality of experience while keeping up with the contemporary technologies.
The PTA and Ministry of IT and Telecom Division in partnership with Qualcomm Pakistan organized the one-day seminar on ‘Technology Evolution & Roadmap to 5G’ in Islamabad.
Minister of State for IT Anusha Rehman has also on numerous occurrences stated that Pakistan would be among the first few countries in South Asia to Pioneer 5G services.
The seminar was organized to take steps toward the introduction of latest technologies in line with the image of the government of Pakistan.
Another speaker Khalid Barghouti talked about progression, examinations, trials and growth of 5G technologies in an assortment of countries.
“Some countries have even stated admittance to broadband as a fundamental human right,” Khalid said.
Read also: Nokia and Orange Group Join Hands to Launch 5G Services
