ISLAMABAD: The path for the launch of 5G in Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) has been cleared as policy directives for trials have been approved, with four telecommunication operations expected to begin testing soon.

The GB Council, chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, has approved the summary to launch 5G test trials in the region; the approval is expected to be received by the telecom sector regulator in the coming week.

GB Caretaker Information Technology Minister Ghulam Abbas said the council’s secretariat had prepared a summary seeking the approval of policy directives for 5G trials.

He said that the summary had been endorsed by the ministries of Law and IT. He said that after the prime minister’s approval, the summary will now be sent back to the IT ministry.

“The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) is the telecom sector regulator. The IT ministry will authorise the PTA to initiate the 5G test trials,” Abbas said.

The 5G spectrum auction was held in the country last month on March 10, but GB and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) were not included as separate regulations apply to these regions.

Meanwhile, a senior PTA official said that the policy had already been drafted. He said that following the IT ministry’s approval, the four telecom companies operating in GB would be directed to initiate trials.

After the merger of Ufone with Telenor Pakistan, there are three telecom companies operational in the country, including Zong and Jazz. However, the Special Communications Organisation (SCO), a state-owned subsidiary of the IT ministry, operates only in GB and AJK.

The PTA official said that the authority would issue directives to the four telecom companies to start preparing for trials ahead of the 5G spectrum auction in GB.

Three bands are primarily used for 5G services; 2,300 megahertz (MHz), 2,600 MHz and 3,500 MHz. The telecommunication authority will release bands in these frequencies for the test trials.

The trials will allow telecom companies to test their system and its compatibility with the new frequencies across the region. This allows companies to strategise their future planning to participate in the spectrum auction.