Pakistan is moving to resolve persistent telecom issues in Chitral. The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has announced that a recent spectrum auction will help reduce network congestion and improve connectivity in the region.
The development came during a meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Less Developed Areas, chaired by Niaz Ahmed. Officials shared updates on telecom challenges in underserved regions, with a strong focus on Chitral.
Infrastructure Gaps and Frequent Disruptions
PTA Chairman Hafeez ur Rehman highlighted key issues affecting connectivity in Chitral. He said the number of telecom towers has increased to 142. However, network performance remains weak due to rising demand and limited infrastructure.
One major concern is reliance on a single optical fiber line. This creates a critical vulnerability. If the cable is damaged, the entire region faces outages. Such incidents often occur during development work by the National Highway Authority.
The PTA has requested better coordination with authorities. The goal is to prevent accidental cable cuts during construction projects. Officials stressed that even minor disruptions can impact thousands of users.
Load shedding is another major issue. Power outages directly affect network performance. Backup batteries only last a few hours. Generators are expensive and depend on diesel, which is already in short supply due to the energy crisis.
Spectrum Auction and 5G Limitations
To tackle congestion, PTA recently auctioned 480 MHz of spectrum. This move is expected to ease pressure on existing networks. It will also improve service quality for users in remote areas like Chitral.
The chairman explained that spectrum shortage was a long-standing problem. With new allocations, telecom operators can expand capacity and reduce call drops and slow internet speeds.
However, he clarified that future technologies like 5G require strong fiber infrastructure. Microwave links, currently used in some areas, are not suitable for 5G deployment. This means further investment is needed to modernize the network.
Committee members emphasized accountability. They noted that telecom companies earn significant revenue and must ensure reliable services for all regions.
Universal Service Fund and Development Delays
The meeting also reviewed progress by the Universal Service Fund Pakistan. CEO Mudassar Chaudhry shared that the fund has completed 165 projects since 2006.
The USF has provided subsidies worth Rs. 140 billion. Nearly 45 percent of this support has been used in Balochistan. In Chitral, the fund has installed 71 4G sites, covering about half of the area.
Despite progress, funding disruptions slowed development. In 2014, the Finance Division Pakistan took control of USF funds. Projects were halted for over two years.
The government began returning funds in 2025. So far, Rs17 billion has been released, while Rs40 billion is still pending. The Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication confirmed these figures.
The committee has now requested a detailed briefing on the matter in its next session. Officials aim to ensure transparency and accelerate future projects.
