ISLAMABAD, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) -- The Pakistani government has begun the process of launching 5G spectrum to boost the South Asian country's telecommunications sector, local media reported on Thursday.
Caretaker Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication Umar Saif was quoted as saying that the federal cabinet had approved the formation of a committee to auction the 5G spectrum.
The minister said that the committee would play a pivotal role in introducing new-generation technology in the country.
The committee will review the availability of spectrum in various frequency bands, including 700 MHz, 1,800 MHz, 2,100 MHz, and 2,600 MHz, said the minister, adding that the total spectrum allocated to the four telecom companies was inadequate to meet the requirements of consumers.
The minister said Pakistan is the 7th largest mobile phone market with 194 million consumers and the government has formed a plan to encourage local manufacturing of affordable and high-quality mobile phones.
The federal cabinet also approved the Telecom Infrastructure Sharing Framework, which will allow telecom companies to utilize resources jointly such as towers, antennas, cable ducts and other critical infrastructure.
The minister said the new mechanism would streamline the use of resources and reduce operating costs, opening the door for new companies to enter the telecom field in Pakistan. ■