Pakistan Telecommunication Authority Updates Spectrum Plan as CMOs Roll Out 5G Commercial Services

ISLAMABAD — The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has updated its National Frequency Allocation Plan to support the rollout of Next Generation Mobile Services (NGMS) and harmonize national spectrum allocation with international standards.

Following the formal licensing of major Cellular Mobile Operators (CMOs) for 5G commercial services, hardware manufacturers targeting Pakistan face new compliance guidelines. To qualify for the official PTA whitelist, all 5G-enabled equipment must undergo rigorous testing against local NGMS frequency bands.

The revised framework also highlights technical requirements for short-range radio devices. Notably, Pakistan operates RFID equipment within the 920–925 MHz band, meaning hardware originally manufactured for European harmonized bands may require re-tuning prior to import.

Mandatory PTA Type Approval remains strict across all radio communication equipment, requiring verified compliance with Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) limits, emission masks, and frequency stability. Original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) are advised to align their R&D and homologation schedules with these updated technical parameters to ensure seamless market access.