The federal government has formed a high-level committee to examine measures aimed at exempting telecom towers from electricity load shedding following growing concerns that prolonged power outages are disrupting mobile and internet services.
According to officials, the committee has been established under the leadership of the Secretary for Information Technology and Telecommunication, based on recommendations made by the Auction Advisory Committee.
The committee includes the Chairman of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), a member of the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA), representatives from the Power Division, and members of the telecom industry.
Officials said the committee will develop smart solutions to ensure an uninterrupted electricity supply for telecom infrastructure. One proposal under consideration is to provide telecom towers with a separate power supply when electricity feeders are switched off.
Authorities said telecom companies are not defaulting on electricity payments and continue to pay their power bills in full. Despite maintaining a 100 percent payment record, telecom operators are still affected by scheduled load shedding.
The committee will also examine the possibility of granting telecom infrastructure an industrial electricity tariff to help improve operational sustainability.
Officials noted that several districts across the country are currently facing up to 14 hours of daily load shedding. Telecom companies can generally keep services running during power outages lasting three to four hours, but longer outages significantly disrupt operations.
The committee has been directed to submit its recommendations to the federal government within three months.
PTA officials said prolonged load shedding in some regions is already affecting telecom services because operators cannot rely on generators for extended periods. They stressed that telecom towers should be exempt from load shedding to ensure uninterrupted communication services.
Meanwhile, Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication officials proposed making it mandatory for telecom operators to install solar power systems at tower sites.
Senator Kamran Murtaza also said that worsening law and order conditions in certain areas are contributing to disruptions in telecom services.
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what an irony, there are hundred of thousands of households out there who pay their 100% bill, but they still face load-shadding, why unable to think for them as well? why only corporate sector?
That's easy. Make them pay our bills then.
The govt of Mafias always extends it's support to the mafias and big guns, and they have nothing to the with the man in the street.