5G spectrum auction likely to address internet disruptions

As Pakistan continues to grapple with sporadic internet throttling, the National Assembly Standing Committee on Information Technology and Telecommunication on Thursday was briefed that the 5G spectrum auction will set aside the internet crisis in the country.

The spectrum auction is slated to be conducted in April this year.

With Syed Amin-ul-Haque in the chair, the NA session drew committee members' ire over the persistence of internet disruptions. 

Some members noted that the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) pledged to address the ongoing internet issues by October 2024 but failed to do so.

During the NA session, it was also learned that the internet shutdowns have caused Pakistan to bear millions of dollars in losses, led by the IT industry's inability to export their services overseas.

Regarding this, the PTA chairman outlined that three out of seven submarine cables were damaged due to an unidentified cause, leading to internet issues nationwide.

Reflecting on the infrastructure challenges impeding the rollout of 5G, he said with the allocation of 270 MHz spectrum, the regulator authority will not be able to cater to the internet requirements of Pakistan's 240 million population.

If the required spectrum is not approved, the rollout of 5G in Pakistan will lead to network congestion.