Pakistan Frequency Allocation Summary
The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) manages the national frequency plan, which has recently been updated to incorporate Next Generation Mobile Services (NGMS). The regulatory framework is designed to align with international standards while maintaining specific local requirements for short-range and cellular communications.
Cellular and 5G Services
As of March 2026, the PTA has formally granted licenses for 5G commercial services to major Cellular Mobile Operators (CMOs), including Jazz, Ufone, and Zong. The rollout is occurring in a phased manner. Manufacturers must ensure that mobile handsets and 5G-enabled devices are specifically tested for compatibility with Pakistan's allocated NGMS bands to be included on the PTA's official whitelist of authorized devices.
Technical Restrictions and Compliance
Devices must adhere to strict emission limits to prevent interference with primary licensed services. Specific attention must be paid to:
Power Limits: Maximum transmit power and EIRP are capped based on the specific SRD category.
Bandwidth: Occupied bandwidth must remain within the designated channel spacing defined in the PTA technical standards.
Type Approval: All radio communication equipment requires mandatory Type Approval from the PTA. This process includes verification of the device's operating frequencies, SAR (Specific Absorption Rate) compliance for handheld devices, and emission masks.
Coordination and Modification
This transition to 5G modifies previous cellular allocations, moving spectrum from legacy services to NGMS. While SRD bands are generally license-exempt, they operate on a non-interference, non-protection basis. Manufacturers are responsible for ensuring their devices do not cause harmful interference to the newly licensed 5G networks or other primary users identified in the National Frequency Allocation Plan.
