Page 118 - SAMENA Trends - October-December 2024

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

Pakistan

Chairman PTA, Major General (R) Hafeez ur Rehman chaired a robust cybersecurity framework essential for Pakistan’s economic
meeting with Madiha Hamid, CEO, DEMO Pakistan and Waqas and digital stability. Major General (R) Hafeez Ur Rehman HI(M),
Hassan, Regional Lead for Global Digital Inclusion Partnership Chairman PTA, in his keynote address, underscored PTA’s
(GDIP). DEMO is the only organization from Asia to win over USD initiatives fostering a proactive cybersecurity culture, emphasizing
1 million grant by the WiDEF - a fund established by USAID and collaboration for a secure sector. Shields were presented to
the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. DEMO will implement the top-ranking telecom entities and key stakeholders for their
2-year grant to address Pakistan's gender digital divide, where roles in enhancing Pakistan’s Global Cybersecurity Index (GCI)
only 26% of women have internet access, compared to 47% of ranking. Cybersecurity annual report 2024 was also launched
men. This project will empower 10,000 women in government on the occasion detailing PTA’s initiatives. The report and the
colleges through digiskills training, provide online safety chatbot details of rankings will be available on the PTA website. Cyber
for 52 million Whatsapp users in Pakistan and run advocacy security awards celebrate the telecom industry’s dedication to
campaign targeting 8 million social media users to bring about strengthening security frameworks, showcasing advancements
social and behavioral change. Chairman PTA reaffirmed PTA’s full toward a more resilient telecom infrastructure.
support for the project’s successful implementation, highlighting (November 5, 2024) www.pta.gov.pk
the authority’s commitment to enhancing digital inclusion and
empowering women. (December 12, 2024) www.pta.gov.pk The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) conducted an
independent Quality of Service (QoS) survey in 23 cities across
The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has officially Sindh, Punjab, Balochistan, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to evaluate
hired National Economic Research Associates Inc. (NERA) for the performance of Cellular Mobile Operators (CMOs). Survey
consultancy services to assist in the release of IMT spectrum routes covered main and service roads, and sectors/colonies,
aimed at enhancing next-generation mobile broadband services with around 4,000 km traveled per CMO over 83 days. During
in Pakistan. The contract was signed on November 5, 2024. As part the survey, 0.38 million mobile broadband tests and 57,500
of the agreement, NERA will conduct stakeholder consultations voice call and SMS tests were conducted using automated QoS
and provide recommendations to the government on key aspects monitoring tools. Based on compliance with KPIs from NGMS
of the upcoming spectrum release, including proposed reforms, licenses and QoS Regulations 2021, CMOs were ranked for mobile
spectrum valuation, and auction design. The process is expected network coverage, voice services, and broadband speed. Survey
to be completed by April 2025. NERA, a leading U.S.-based results showed compliance in upload/download speeds and
international consultancy firm, was selected after accepting improvements in network latency and webpage loading times.
the letter of intent (LOI) for the 5G spectrum auction. Despite Some voice KPIs, however, fell below the licensed threshold in
submitting the second-highest technical bid, NERA was chosen certain areas. Operators using advanced technologies like LTE
due to offering the lowest financial bid of $0.75 million for the Carrier Aggregation and Voice over LTE provided better services.
consultancy services. (November 20, 2024) www.profit.pakistantoday.com.pk PTA has instructed operators to improve service quality. The
survey aims to enhance mobile service quality and foster healthy
The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) said that 5G competition among operators. (October 11, 2024) www.pta.gov.pk
internet service would be introduced in Pakistan by April 2025.
The PTA local chapter sources told APP that efforts were being A Letter of Cooperation (LoC) was signed between The
made to expand the telecom market and provide better facilities Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) and Malaysian
to users. They said that the restoration of the submarine cable Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) in a
was currently underway in the country, which was expected to be ceremony held today at Prime Minister’s House. Heads of both
completed by August 27, 2025. Despite upgradation of services, organizations Mr. Tan Sri Mohamad Salim bin Fateh Din, Chairman
no further disruption was expected, and customers would MCMC & Major General (R) Hafeez Ur Rehman HI(M), Chairman
get better services, they added. Meanwhile, the PTA awarded PTA, signed the LoC in the presence of Honorable Prime Ministers
a letter of intent to National Economic Research Associates of both countries. The LoC is focused on collaboration for
(NERA) to oversee the 5G spectrum auction. NERA is a US-based organizing, executing and implementing the Regulations Capacity
consultancy that specializes in telecom and government sector Development Program (RCD) in areas of mutual interests to
modeling. (November 12, 2024) www.dailytimes.com.pk enhance collaboration between PTA and the MCMC to achieve
shared goals and objectives. The focus areas under consideration
To recognize the outstanding achievements in enhancing include 5G Ecosystem, Digital Connectivity, Enhancement of Fixed
cybersecurity within the telecom sector of Pakistan, The Pakistan Broadband Services, Emerging Technologies such as Artificial
Telecommunication Authority (PTA) organized Cybersecurity Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), Cloud Computing, Data
Awards 2024 at Islamabad. Commending the industry’s Analytics, etc. This collaborative effort between PTA and MCMC is
commitment, Minister of State for IT and Telecommunications, anticipated to drive innovation, economic growth, and enhanced
Shaza Fatima Khawja, reiterated the government’s vision for a connectivity in both countries. (October 3, 2024) www.pta.gov.pk

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