The Ministry of IT and Telecom (MoIT&T) has started working on an automated online system to expedite the Right of Way (RoW) No Objection Certificate (NOC) processes for telecom operators.
The Minister Incharge of the Cabinet Division informed the Senate in a written reply that the government is committed to facilitating telecom expansion through regulatory and policy measures.
The minister stated that under the rollout obligations set by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), cellular mobile operators (CMOs) must meet minimum annual base transceiver station (BTS) site targets per operator.
The requirements include 245 sites for Punjab, 105 for Sindh, 65 for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK), and 30 for Balochistan.
These obligations aim to ensure a 3% yearly increase in population coverage, with site additions varying based on terrain, radio frequency conditions, and existing network infrastructure.
The Senate was also informed that PTA issues CMO licenses through an open auction process, with all terms and conditions related to rollout obligations clearly outlined. Licenses are awarded for a period of 15 years, and since 2021, population-based coverage requirements have been enhanced.
For remote and underdeveloped areas, the Universal Service Fund (USF) plays a crucial role in facilitating telecom coverage. As mandated under the Pakistan Telecom (Re-Organization) Act, USF funds projects that extend connectivity to areas where commercial viability is low.
The minister further stated that PTA has issued separate licenses for Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJ&K) and Gilgit-Baltistan (GB), with distinct rollout targets for urban and rural areas.
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