The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has announced the allocation of the 6 Gigahertz (GHz) spectrum band for unlicensed RLAN operations in Pakistan. This makes Pakistan the 10th country in the Asia-Pacific region to utilize the 6 GHz band for Wi-Fi. Worldwide, only 60 countries have opened up the 6 GHz band, either entirely or partially, for RLAN (Wi-Fi) services.
The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) announced the allocation of the 6 Gigahertz (GHz) spectrum band for unlicensed RLAN operations during an event titled “Unlocking Pakistan’s Connectivity: Enablement of Next-Gen Wi-Fi in 6 GHz Band.” Chairman PTA Major General (R) Hafeez Ur Rehman stated that this initiative positions Pakistan as a leader in the region for adopting next-generation RLAN (Wi-Fi) technology, joining a select group of forward-thinking Asian nations unlocking the potential of Wi-Fi 6E. Representatives from META, Dynamic Spectrum Alliance (DSA), Jazz, Nayatel, and Huawei highlighted the advantages of adopting Wi-Fi 6E in Pakistan.
Currently, Wi-Fi in Pakistan operates on the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands, with 100 MHz and 150 MHz of bandwidth, respectively. These Industrial, Scientific & Medical (ISM) bands also support other technologies like microwave ovens, Bluetooth devices, and cordless phones, leading to congestion. Wi-Fi 6E will address these congestion and latency challenges.
Aligned with the government’s “Digital Pakistan” vision, the PTA aims to stimulate digital innovation, empower businesses, and bridge the digital divide by offering more reliable and high-speed internet access, fostering a more inclusive digital economy in Pakistan.
