Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) in collaboration with Zong, Telenor Pakistan, and Ufone has granted additional spectrum services in Gilgit Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir. The companies have required that all backend facilities should be provided to reduce technical hurdles in the provision of internet services in the region.
The region of GB and Kashmir has been deprived of internet facilities due to several bureaucratic and administrative bottlenecks. Proper 4G and 3G internet services are still not available even though the services were launched in the rest of the country in 2014. The provision of proper internet facilities will not only aid tourism but also businesses. In the post-covid era, electronic education, health, and commerce have gained massive significance, and smooth 4G internet services is a prerequisite to these activities. The royalty earned through the auction proceeds will be distributed between AJK and GB on a 40 to 60 basis, respectively.
Furthermore, under the agreement concluded, internet speed will be enhanced by one megabit per second for 3G and 4mbps for the 4G service. For uniform distribution of services, they will be equitably distributed across the rural and urban regions. PTA has already granted 45 licenses to various companies for establishing optical fibres and other services in the region.
