Daily Times

The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has unveiled its plans for the Fifth Generation (5G) Wireless Networks’ public trials as the regulator on Wednesday issued policy directive on “Test and Development of Future Technologies (5G) Wireless Networks In Pakistan”.

In this connection, the PTA has invited applications from operators while entities registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) and/or Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC), R&D organisations and academic institutions, devices and/or equipment manufacturers etc shall be eligible to apply for test and development authorisation.

Applicants can propose spectrum for trial purpose, which could inter alia include but not limited to the requisite spectrum blocks in GHz, 3.6 GHz and other relevant bands amenable to millimeter wave (mmW) propagation, says a policy note.

This framework enables the use of radio spectrum on trial basis for non-commercial purposes to carry out trials for innovative use of radio frequency spectrum, apparatus/equipment and academic purposes, including but not limited to scientific research, radio concepts and new systems demonstrations.

In this regard, the government of Pakistan’s policy directive based framework invites all stakeholders for participation and in subject trials. The document contains the terms and conditions which shall be complied with by an entity/organisation which intends to conduct trials, demonstrate systems and/or services in Pakistan based on IMT 2020 for the purpose of demonstrating readiness for new technologies in standalone (SA) and/or non-standalone (NSA) environment, including but not limited to identified use cases of eMBB (Enhanced Mobile Broadband), uRLLC (Ultra-reliable and Low-latency Communications) and MMTC (Massive-Machine Type Communications) through Slicing, Orchestration and Management techniques, application and use case development etc.

There is no regulatory fee associated with subject non-commercial trial permission or the spectrum usage for this purpose, the note added.

The PTA may visit customer premises along with authorisation holder where trials are being conducted for the purpose of assessment and compliance, it said. The trial shall last for the period of three to six months or as stated in the authorisation issued by the PTA. Spectrum for the trial will be available only at the designated test sites subject to localised restrictions (if any) due to national security issues.

The PTA said 5G is expected to enable new groundbreaking data rates and limits and would considerably enhance the experience of services/applications available today. In view of the foregoing and to enable Pakistan to keep up with the growth and embrace new technologies, it is imperative to formalise through policy the regulatory environment for test deployment and benchmarking of 5G technologies.