Rehan Shahid 
Nov 30, 2025
The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) on Saturday announced it would impose stricter oversight on Telecommunication Infrastructure Provider (TIP) license holders, following serious concerns over weak rollouts and a large number of inactive licenses.
In a statement, most TIP licensees have failed to meet the basic requirements for their licenses. The telecommunication regulator has taken notice of their poor performance and is preparing to introduce stringent rollout obligations to improve telecom infrastructure development.
Taking to X (formerly Twitter), PTA stated: "You can submit your valuable feedback until December 12, 2025, 4:30pm. Come on! Play your part in shaping the future of Pakistan's digital infrastructure."
License holders are required to lay at least 60 kilometres of fibre-optic cable annually. TIP operators will also need to install 10 towers or radio links each year.
According to the proposed conditions, TIP license holders' compliance with timelines for establishing submarine cable landing stations will be compulsory as well.
According to the PTA document, the majority of TIP license holders have not fulfilled their licensing obligations. Only 14 out of 24 have managed to deploy fibre networks, while six companies in Islamabad have installed 300 kilometres or more.
PTA aims to eliminate inactive licenses, noting that poor rollout efforts are hindering Pakistan’s national broadband goals. With the proposed reforms, the telecom infrastructure will advance, along with it will accelerate fiberisation targets, and encourage new investments in the sector.
