- IT exports at USD 3.8B; freelancers USD 0.7B (↑91%).
- Pakistan Digital Authority formed; national digital blueprint for agriculture, health, education.
- Skills push: 300,000 in training; target 1 million; strong jobs & multiplier effect.
- Priority: affordable high-bandwidth internet for all.
- Submarine cables: international capacity expansion planned.
- Fiberization: only 14% towers on fiber; 3-year targets with local fiber partners.
- Right-of-Way reforms: CDA removed fees in Islamabad; 27 Aug letter—NHA & Railways to follow (earlier Rs 36/m/year).
- Network is 98% wireless today; shift to fiber backhaul prioritized.
- Youth enablement: tech parks + 25 co-working sites (2,800 seats coming).
- Spectrum roadmap: focus on 600 MHz sale; rollout possible 3 months after auction.
- Satellite internet: licensing streamlined; international consultant onboard; open space policy attracting entrants.
- PTA view: sector grew but QoS hit by congestion; high op/finance costs; lowest tariffs; 37.4% taxes; 2G still common.
- Bottlenecks: ROW, site-fiber, capex intensity, power gaps, limited backhaul & submarine capacity; only 4 international data centers in use.
- 5G track: trial policy (Oct 2017); auction initiated 2023; spectrum-starved market; Sun TV/MMDS litigation being resolved (no current stay).
- Target: spectrum auction by Dec 2025; expected gains in GDP, exports, investment, jobs; regs advancing national roaming, SIM security, VoWiFi, 3G sunset, Wi-Fi 6E/7, one-window EODB, infra-sharing, cybersecurity.
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