Latest news with #PakistanTelecommunicationAuthority
Express Tribune
2 days ago
- Business
- Express Tribune
PTA chief, envoy discuss digital cooperation
Listen to article Chairman of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), Major General (R) Hafeezur Rehman, held a high-level meeting with Pakistan's Ambassador to Norway, Saadia Altaf Qazi, during his official visit to Norway to represent Pakistan at the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) 2025. According to an official statement released by PTA on Thursday, the meeting focused on enhancing bilateral cooperation in the digital sector and identifying strategic opportunities to strengthen Pakistan's digital footprint on the global stage. During the meeting, the PTA chairman briefed the ambassador on the country's evolving digital regulatory landscape. He highlighted PTA's strategic priorities, including expanding digital inclusion, improving broadband penetration, and bolstering cybersecurity, all in line with international best practices. The statement noted that Ambassador Qazi appreciated PTA's proactive efforts in driving an inclusive and secure digital transformation. She assured the PTA chairman of her full support in promoting international collaborations that align with Pakistan's vision of a connected and empowered nation.
Express Tribune
3 days ago
- Business
- Express Tribune
Telecom authority chief visits Telenor HQ
Chairman of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), Major General (Retired) Hafeezur Rehman, paid an official visit to the headquarters of Telenor Group in Norway during his participation in the UN Internet Governance Forum, as part of ongoing discussions around digital transformation and telecom sector regulation. According to a statement issued by PTA on Wednesday, the chairman held a high-level meeting with the chief financial officer of Telenor Group, followed by another meeting with the group head of external relations, people and strategy. The visit also included a demonstration of 5G and artificial intelligence (AI) use cases, with examples drawn from healthcare, mobility, and smart city applications. The PTA statement adds that the chairman took part in a session on spectrum allocation practices in Nordic countries, aimed at exploring models of efficient spectrum management.
Business Recorder
19-06-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
Telecom subscribers surpass 200 million in Pakistan
Telecom subscribers have crossed 200 million in the country, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) said on Thursday, terming the development a 'historic milestone' that 'reflects Pakistan's accelerated digital growth'. 'The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority proudly announces a historic milestone—crossing 200 million telecom subscribers nationwide. With 150 million broadband and over 2 million Fiber To The Home (FTTH) subscribers. This achievement reflects Pakistan's accelerated digital growth and PTA's commitment to inclusive connectivity,' the PTA said. Telecom sector shows robust performance in nine months To mark the celebration, the PTA and CMO's (Jazz, Telenor, Ufone, Zong and SCO) are offering free 2GB data + 200 on-net minutes (valid for 24 hours) on June 20, 2025 to all mobile users, the statement added. 'Subscribers can avail this offer by dialing short code *2200# (All Mobile Operators).' To further digital inclusion, especially for female students, PTA—alongside PTCL, Transworld, Nayatel, Cybernet, and Wateen—are deploying free Wi-Fi hotspots for 6-month at HEC-recognized selected universities including women universities to empower students through improved access to digital resources, according to the statement. Moreover, the PTA said, mobile manufacturers have contributed 200 locally assembled smartphones to be distributed among female SIM owners through computerised balloting across Pakistan, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan.
Business Recorder
11-06-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
4G/5G license revenue set at Rs22.612bn for FY26
ISLAMABAD: The government has budgeted Rs22.612 billion from 4G/5G licenses under the head of non-tax revenue for the next fiscal year 2025-26 against Rs32.612 billion budgeted for the outgoing fiscal year which was later revised upward to Rs27 billion. Under the head of Income from Property and Enterprises (Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (Surplus), the government has projected to generate Rs1.1 trillion for the next fiscal year against the budgeted Rs1.2 trillion for the outgoing fiscal year which was later revised to Rs1.431 trillion. According to the budget documents 2025-26, the government has budgeted Rs12 billion from mobile handset levy for the next fiscal year against the budgeted Rs10 billion for the outgoing fiscal year. The government has budgeted Rs6.239 billion in the budget for 2025-26 from Regulatory Authorities (Surplus/Penalties) against Rs10.036 billion budgeted for the current fiscal year which was later revised to Rs654.7 million. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
10-06-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
Telecom sector shows robust performance in nine months
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's telecom sector continued to show robust performance during the first nine months of fiscal year 2024-25 (July–March), with total revenues reaching Rs 803 billion. However, the sector's contribution to the national exchequer declined to Rs271 billion during the same period, the Economic Survey 2024-25 revealed. While telecom revenues remained strong—up from Rs 644 billion in FY2020-21 to Rs803 billion in the current fiscal year so far—the sector's tax and duty contribution dropped from a high of Rs 341 billion in FY2022-23 to Rs 271 billion during July–March FY2025. Experts attribute the drop to potential shifts in policy measures, reduced tax collection windows due to the data covering only nine months, or changing dynamics in sector profitability. Despite the decline, the telecom sector remains a vital contributor to the economy. Telecom investment also saw a dip, registering USD 621 million in FY2024-25 (July–March), compared to USD 770 million in the previous year and USD 1,657 million in FY2021-22. Despite these financial shifts, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) reported steady expansion in digital infrastructure. Broadband penetration rose to 59.8%, with 4G coverage reaching over 81% of the population. Total broadband subscribers hit 147.2 million by March 2025. The PTA's regulatory reforms, digital inclusion strategies, and initiatives like unlocking the 6 GHz spectrum for next-generation Wi-Fi have positioned Pakistan as the 10th Asian country to adopt Wi-Fi 6E and beyond. Additionally, Pakistan's rank in the Global Cybersecurity Index 2024 improved significantly—from 79th to among the top 40, reflecting progress in digital security and infrastructure resilience. The survey further noted the launch of national roaming along the Makran Coastal Highway, a move aimed at addressing coverage blackspots and improving emergency communication. To improve the regulatory environment, PTA also launched OASIS, a digital licensing system integrating services from NADRA, SECP, and NBP, revealed the survey. The country is preparing for a 5G rollout by mid-2025, with infrastructure upgrades, spectrum planning, and operator trials already underway, the survey mentioned. Following the approval of the National Space Policy, the development of a licensing framework for satellite broadband services is also in progress. The Economic Survey also noted ongoing work on a National Fiberisation Plan, developed in collaboration with the World Bank, to expand the country's fiber-optic backbone. Meanwhile, efforts to ensure digital safety have intensified, with PTA blocking over 1.43 million URLs related to unlawful content. Additionally, more than 400,000 quality-of-service tests were conducted to monitor and enforce telecom performance standards nationwide. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
