Page 123 - SAMENA Trends - March 2020

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

Pakistan

Ministry of IT and Telecommunication, through Universal Service forward, roadmap with timelines and key challenges for the
Fund (USF), has made landmark achievements in the first six introduction of 5G technology in the country. The meeting was held
months of FY 2019-20 (July-December). During this period, under the Chairmanship of Ministry of IT and Telecommunication
six Next Generation Broadband for Sustainable Development Additional Secretary at Ministry of IT. The meeting discussed the
(NGBSD) projects worth Rs. 2.8 billion were awarded for the way forward, roadmap with timelines, and key challenges including
socio-economic uplift of the people. Through these projects, hi- current 4G networks, spectrum availability & pricing, infrastructure
speed mobile broadband access is being provided to over 9 million related issues like Right of Way, 5G device ecosystem, market
(approximately) citizens in total, residing in 4333 mauzas spread need of relevant use cases and telecom taxation. The meeting
across 13 districts. The contracts of these projects were awarded also decided to form five sub working groups including National
for hi-speed broadband services to the following areas according Broadband Plan, WG-1 on Spectrum, WG-2 on Regulations, WG-3
to the performance report of USF, an organization under Ministry on Use cases & Applications and WG-4 on Infrastructure. Earlier,
of IT and Telecommunication. the ministry said in a statement that the competition over the
• Hyderabad (districts of Matiari, Tando Allahyar, Hyderabad, test trial of fifth generation (5G) mobile technology is heating up
Tando Muhammad Khan, Badin & Sujawal) between Jazz and Zong, the Ministry of Information Technology
• Bahawalpur (district of Bahawalpur) and Telecommunication has formed a committee for the auction
• Rahimyarkhan (district of Rahimyar Khan) of 5G spectrum in the country on the directives of Minister for
• Bahawalnagar (Bahawalnagar) Information Technology Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui. The 5G test
• DG Khan (DG Khan & Layyah) by Jazz and Zong has triggered a war on social media between the
• Tharparkar (Tharparkar & Mirpurkhas) supporters of both telecom companies. Though the 5G test was
The contracts of these projects were awarded to Telenor and launched by Zong in August 2019, the company showcased its 5G
PMCL (Jazz). Through the implementation of all these projects, performance again in January after Jazz demonstrated its `fifth
the Ministry of IT & Telecom through USF is enabling citizens of generation` (5G) mobile technology. Jazz said that an average
Pakistan to harness dividends of the 4th industrial revolution. All download speed of 1,452Mbps and upload speed of 68Mbps had
these programs are acting as a catalyst to stimulate economic been achieved along with successful HD voice and video calls. In
growth, create jobs, trigger financial inclusion, decrease disparities, a statement, Jazz CEO Aamir Ibrahim had said that the launch of
reduce social inclusion and enable improvements in education, 5G would meet the evolving needs of tomorrow`s customers. `We
health care, and other social services. They are also helping are pleased with the initial 5G trials and are ready to fast-track the
Pakistan achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) technology across Pakistan, whenever the process gets initiated
and also creating a favorable environment for implementation by the government. These trials showcase our commitment
of the Prime Minister’s Digital Pakistan Program, as broadband towards a digital Pakistan, which is why we have been the
coverage has been identified as a primary pillar of the program. In front-runners in deploying the latest mobile technology, Ibrahim
order to further spread the benefits of these projects, USF plans said. He said that Jazz was ready to offer 5G`s game-changing
to award contracts for the projects in the following areas in the potential whenever the government allowed for its commercial
second half of the FY 2019-20. launch. With the approval from the telecom regulator Pakistan
• Sanghar (Umerkot & Sanghar) Telecommunication Authority (PTA), Jazz is showcasing its 5G
• Muzaffargarh (Muzaffargarh & Rajanpur) capacity to ordinary customers for 20 days at its offices in F8,
• Kurram (Kurram) G7, E7 and Blue Area, where citizens with 5G compatible devices
• Bolan (Kacchi-Bolan & Jhal Magsi) can experience the next generation high speed internet. Zong had
• Jaffarabad (Jaffarabad, Sohbatpur and Nasirabad) also successfully completed its first 5G video call and reached
(March 18, 2020) propakistani.pk the speed of over 1.5GB per second during testing. `We will be
showcasing more technologically advanced and groundbreaking
On behalf of the Consultation Committee, Chairman Pakistan use-cases to enable Pakistan to become one of the most digitally
Telecom Authority (PTA) Amir Azeem Bajwa has invited Asia connected countries in the world, Zong Chairman and CEO Wang
Internet Coalition (AIC) for the ongoing consultation process over Hua said. (March 10, 2020) nation.com.pk
Citizens Protection (Against Online Harm) Rules, 2020. In a formal
letter written to the Managing Director of AIC, Chairman Pakistan Formed under the directions of the Prime Minister of Pakistan,
Telecom Authority invited Asia Internet Coalition and its members the first meeting of the Consultation Committee on Citizen
for a consultative face-to-face or video conferencing meeting Protection (against online harm) Rules 2020 was held today at
with the Committee during the coming week. PTA Headquarters. In the meeting the Committee decided to
(March 14, 2020) pakobserver.net immediately initiate a broad-based, open consultation process
with all stakeholders including civil society, human and digital
The first meeting of the Advisory Committee for 5G Planning rights groups, social media platforms (technology companies) and
in Pakistan (5G Pakistan Plan Committee) discussed the way media etc. to solicit constructive input to address the concerns

123 MARCH 2020