First, PTA mentioned some of the key issues in the implementation of 5G in Pakistan, such as heavy capital investment, slow returns on investments, and availability of handsets compatible with the network.
Challenges of Investments and Infrastructure
For the introduction of 5G, a huge investment is required to upgrade the current network and to build small cells and advanced antennas along with extensive fiber optic backhaul in the country. This huge investment is not very easy for a telecom operator in a market where consumers are very price sensitive, as it will take a long time to generate returns, forcing operators to be more reluctant on such large up-front capital expenditures.
Government Support and PPPs
Government incentives and Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) would be really helpful in promoting investments and relief from financial stress. Achieving this will ensure the equal treatment of people in the provision of 5G services across the country considering
Also Read: Taiwan Receives First Batch of US-Made Abrams Tanks
Closing the Digital Divide
While advanced infrastructure can bring quick benefits to urban areas, high costs and logistics make it less likely that poorer regions will catch up with the technology. There are also going to be hindrances to large-scale uptake due to the unavailability of 5G handsets.
Increased Public Awareness and Acceptance
Raising awareness and propelling the acceptance of 5G will be another challenge as most consumers and businesses have not yet fully understood the benefits and potential of 5G. Some people will have doubts, especially about the health effects, while others will just simply have misconceptions, which would hinder public acceptance. Therefore, the government and telecom service providers are going to put public education campaigns that will inform the citizens about the advantages of 5G, thus creating a level of trust and usage to the general public.
Backhaul Infrastructure
Backhaul is the critical infrastructure for enabling 5G- readiness, and it is crucial for both the performance and capacity of the 5G networks. Pakistan as a nation continues to focus on backhaul readiness as one of the important steps for a 5G deployment, allocation of CMOs in relevant frequency bands towards backhaul, and facilitating trial schemes to further evaluate the performance of various backhaul technologies.
Continuous Endeavour and Future Plans
There is rolling out the process of implementing 5G that had started and is being required to be concluded before mid-2025. PTA has been closely interacting with telecom operators regarding their under-construction infrastructures and high-capacity backhaul, investments directed toward having the Pakistan telecom sector well-prepared for an efficient rollout and operation of 5G networks across the country.