Pakistan: PTA Pushes Telecom Companies to Speed Up Tower Installations for 5G Rollout
新闻台署名 来源：新华社、《黎明报》、《阿拉伯新闻》、阿纳多卢通讯社与《分钟镜报》。由 GSRRA 编辑部翻译并节选。
The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has proposed new measures to speed up telecom tower installations across Pakistan as the country prepares for the rollout of 5G services.
According to the PTA, the slow deployment of telecom towers has become a major challenge for the success of 5G in Pakistan. Out of 15 licensed holders, only 40% have installed towers across the country.
The authority said only 9 of the 15 licensed holders have managed to install telecom towers nationwide. Among them, only six companies have installed 50 or more towers.
The low rate of installation has raised concerns over delays in the rollout of 5G services, which require a strong telecom tower network for reliable coverage and performance.
In response, the PTA has proposed phased installation targets for telecom tower providers and has started seeking feedback from stakeholders.
Under the proposed conditions, license holders will be required to install a minimum of 10 telecom towers during the first year after receiving their license.
The plan also requires companies to install at least 50 towers within five years after the issuance of their certificate.
The PTA said it is conducting consultations with stakeholders before finalizing the rollout targets and related conditions.
Stakeholders have been asked to submit their suggestions by May 18.
The telecom regulator said the proposed measures are aimed at improving tower deployment and supporting the successful implementation of 5G services in Pakistan.
Reference Link:- https://propakistani.pk/2026/05/09/pta-pushes-telecom-companies-to-speed-up-tower-installations-for-5g-rollout/
Zamir Ahmed Awan is the founder and Chair of the Global Silk Route Research Alliance, a think tank in Islamabad. He studied engineering at Shanghai University in the 1980s, and years later he went back to China as Pakistan's science counsellor in Beijing, from 2010 until 2016, working on science and higher education cooperation between the two countries.…
