The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority has proposed new measures to speed up telecom tower installations across the country. Pakistan is preparing for the rollout of 5G services in the coming months. Consequently, PTA pushes telecom companies to speed up tower installations after reviewing current deployment data. Out of 15 licensed holders, only 40 percent have installed towers across the country. The authority said only 9 of the 15 licensed holders have managed to install telecom towers nationwide.

Among those nine companies, only six have installed 50 or more towers each. The low rate of installation has raised concerns over delays in the rollout of 5G services. Reliable coverage and performance require a strong telecom tower network for the new technology. Therefore, PTA pushes telecom companies to speed up tower installations through phased targets and stricter conditions.

Under the proposed measures, license holders will need 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 a five year period after the issuance of their certificate. The PTA has started seeking feedback from stakeholders on these proposed conditions. Stakeholders have been asked to submit their suggestions by May 18.

The telecom regulator said it is conducting consultations with stakeholders before finalizing the rollout targets and related conditions. PTA pushes telecom companies to speed up tower installations to ensure successful implementation of 5G services in Pakistan. The slow deployment of telecom towers has become a major challenge for 5G success. The authority hopes these new measures will address the installation gap.