Page 122 - SAMENA Trends - June-August 2021

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

IT Ministry requested the ECC to approve the policy directive for Syed Amin-Ul-Haque, the Minister of Information Technology and
the auction of NGMS spectrum in Pakistan. The ECC was also Telecommunications, said that the Ministry has finished preparing
requested to deliberate and decide on the recommendations for the additional spectrum auction across the state, including
given by the committee on the issues facing the telecom sector Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan. The Federal
for digital enablement. During the ensuing discussion, the IT & cabinet authorized the spectrum auction at its meeting on July
Telecom Division informed the ECC that the recommendations 27, the Minister said in a statement. He said that an additional
of the committee, headed by the Adviser to Prime Minister on spectrum was being auctioned for AJK and Gilgit-Baltistan for
Institutional Reforms and Austerity, were different from the policy the first time in the country’s history. The county now has a 4G
directive for the auction of NGMS spectrum whereas the policy (fourth generation) facility, but with the new policy, residents will
directive was in line with the past practice. The ECC discussed have access to a 5G (fifth generation) service. Both AJK and GB
the matter threadbare and observed that the recommendations have 2G (second generation) mobile service, and residents in both
of the committee did not cover exchange risk in cases where areas have long wished for a better service, such as 4G, which is
50% balance amount would be paid by the telecom operators currently available in Pakistan. According to him, the basic price
in installments. Therefore, it would be advisable to go by the for the 1800 MHz frequency is $31 million per MHz, while the
past practice. The ECC considered the summary submitted by price for the 2100 MHz frequency is $29 million per MHz. Amin
the Information Technology and Telecommunication Ministry stated that networking initiatives worth Rs 32 billion were in the
and decided that the Ministry should ensure completion of the works, and that revolutionary measures in the field of IT were
auction process by the end of September 2021 in line with the being done to enhance online activity. The Minister stated that the
past practice. The spectrum auctions for the NGMS in Pakistan ministry’s objective was to carry out the Prime Minister’s Digital
were conducted in 2014, 2016, and 2017, under the directives Pakistan Vision, which included the provision of high-quality
issued by the federal government. However, the demand for data mobile and internet services across the country. He expressed
services grew exponentially and in just seven years, the number of his expectations that by auctioning the spectrum frequencies, the
broadband subscribers in the country increased from 14 million in government will be able to raise millions of dollars in addition to
2014 to more than 100 million in April this year. providing improved services to the public. (July 28, 2021) phoneworld.com.pk
(August 7, 2021) tribune.com.pk
Chairman Pakistan Telecom Authority (PTA) Major Gen. (R) Amir
Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has carried out Azeem Bajwa highlighted achievements made by Pakistan’s
an independent Quality of Service (QoS) Survey in 12 cities and telecom sector & recent initiatives taken by the Government & PTA
12 motorways/highways/inter-city roads of Punjab, Khyber for realization of “Digital Pakistan” vision and advancement of ICT
Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan with the aim to measure the sector at GSMA Mobile World Congress “MWC Barcelona 2021”
performance and service quality of Cellular Mobile Operators held in Spain recently. During the event, PTA and GSM Association
(CMOs). The survey activity is part of the plan for QoS Surveys (GSMA) signed a cooperation agreement. This collaboration was
2021 and is a continuous exercise in-line with the vision of agreed at an exclusive “Realizing Digital Pakistan Milestone
Prime Minister of Pakistan to provide quality services to public/ Roundtable”. The key areas of collaboration under the agreement
subscribers. During the survey, the licensed KPIs of voice, are knowledge exchange, regulatory modernization, joint projects
network coverage, SMS and mobile broadband/data were for digital inclusion, harmonizing data sharing, digital skills
checked using automated QoS Monitoring & Benchmarking Tool program and research on the ICT sector of Pakistan. GSMA will
"SmartBenchmarker”. The Drive test teams selected survey routes also project Pakistan’s achievements at various platforms and
in such a manner to cover main roads, service roads and majority promote “Digital Pakistan” Vision at regional and global forums.
of sectors/colonies in surveyed areas. Based upon the compliance The Chairman also delivered a keynote address at the Roundtable
level of each KPI as compared to the threshold defined in their covering the digital landscape of Pakistan, steps taken to
respective licenses and QoS regulations, CMOs have been ranked address industry challenges and the market potential for further
between 1st to 4th position in each category i.e. Mobile Network investment by the operators. Chairman PTA met with Director of
Coverage, Voice service and SMS service in surveyed cities and International Telecommunication Union’s Development Bureau
motorways/highways. Similarly, in Mobile Broadband Speed (ITU-BDT), Doreen Bogdan-Martin. The Chairman briefed the
segment, the ranking is with respect to the highest data download ITU Director about digital profile of Pakistan including market
speed. As per the survey results, compliance level in broadband potential, spectrum roadmap, recent achievements and efforts
services is better while some issues have been observed in to bridge the digital divide. The ITU Director expressed deep
SMS and voice KPIs. The operators have been directed to take appreciation of Government of Pakistan and PTA’s efforts for
corrective measures for improving the service quality upto the digital transformation and assured her full cooperation to PTA
licensed standards. The survey results have been placed at PTA’s and other ICT stakeholders in Pakistan. The Chairman also
website (https://pta.gov.pk/en/consumer-support/qos-survey/ met with Masooma Khawari, Minister of Communications and
qos-survey) for information of the subscribers. By making this Information Technology, Government of Afghanistan. He assured
survey public, PTA is spurring competition among the operators the Afghan IT Minister of PTA’s full cooperation with regards to
to improve their existing infrastructure with an ultimate aim to proposed international connectivity initiatives involving operators
increase the overall country-wide mobile service quality. in Pakistan for improvement in overall broadband experience
(August 3, 2021) pta.gov.pk in Afghanistan. The Chairman assured the IT Minister of PTA’s

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