ISLAMABAD, Feb 22 (APP):Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) Caretaker Minister for Information Technology Ghulam Abbas on Sunday said the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has assured that the auction of 5G spectrum in the region will take place within one to two months after the nationwide rollout.
In an interview with the Associated Press of Pakistan (APP), he stressed that GB must not lag behind other parts of the country in access to high-speed internet.
Improved digital connectivity, he said, is crucial for e-governance, online education, telemedicine, and IT-based businesses.
Ghulam Abbas said that limited bandwidth and infrastructure gaps have hindered socio-economic development in GB, particularly affecting youth, students, entrepreneurs, and the tourism sector.
He recalled that during the 4G rollout, deployment was staggered—first in Pakistan’s federal regions, followed by GB and Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJK).
He said technical testing and arrangements in GB were previously incomplete, causing delays. However, the PTA chairman has now assured that 5G services will be available in GB immediately after federal deployment.
Highlighting persistent challenges with internet and mobile coverage, he said residents and tourists often face power outages, weak signals, and poor connectivity.
He urged telecom operators to improve coverage, especially at tourist sites, while expanding 4G services as an immediate priority.
The minister added that the PTA has pledged to enhance mobile and internet services in the region and assured the establishment of an IT center in cooperation with mobile companies.
Regarding a meeting with the PTA chairman, Ghulam Abbas said the chairman informed that preparations for the auction of additional spectrum are underway.
The PTA has written to the GB Council, AJK Council, and the Ministry of IT and Telecom to initiate groundwork for the regulatory framework in both regions.
The minister said that PTA chairman said that technical testing, regulatory review, and spectrum arrangements would require additional time, necessitating a separate auction for GB and AJK.
Quoting the PTA chairman, he said, “Our preference as a regulator is that spectrum should be provided free of cost in GB and AJK so that operators can invest their capital expenditure in technical infrastructure.”
Ghulam Abbas also said he had asked the GB Law Department to brief him on the region’s Right of Way (RoW) policy and expressed support for abolishing charges to accelerate internet penetration.