Islamabad, Jan 29: The Ministry of Information Technology and Telecom (MoIT&T) has initiated the development of an automated online system to streamline the process for obtaining the Right of Way (RoW) No Objection Certificate (NOC) for telecom operators. This new system aims to speed up the approvals required for expanding telecommunication networks.
The government remains fully committed to supporting the growth of telecom infrastructure through effective regulatory measures and policies, as emphasized by the Minister Incharge of the Cabinet Division in a recent Senate reply.
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Under the guidelines set by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), cellular mobile operators (CMOs) are obligated to meet specific base transceiver station (BTS) site targets annually.
These targets include 245 sites for Punjab, 105 for Sindh, 65 for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK), and 30 for Balochistan.
The primary goal of these requirements is to ensure a 3% annual increase in population coverage. The number of sites added will depend on factors like terrain, radio frequency conditions, and the existing network infrastructure.
The PTA awards licenses to CMOs through a competitive auction process, ensuring transparency and clear terms related to rollout obligations.
The authorities grant licenses for 15 years, with stricter population-based coverage rules since 2021. In less commercially viable areas, the Universal Service Fund (USF) extends telecom services to underserved regions.
The PTA has also issued separate licenses for Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJ&K) and Gilgit-Baltistan (GB), setting specific rollout requirements for urban and rural areas. This effort aims to expand telecom coverage and ensure equal access for all citizens.
