View source for Pakistan Telecommunication Authority

{{Short description|Telecom regulator}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2020}}
{{Use Pakistani English|date=October 2021}}
{{Infobox organisation
| name                = Pakistan Telecommunication Authority
| native_name         = {{nq| مقتدرہِ ٹیلی مواصلات پاکستان}}
| logo                = PakTelecom.png
| logo_caption        = 
| full_name           = Pakistan Telecommunication Authority
| seal_width          = 
| seal_caption        = 
| established         = {{start date and age|1996|df=yes}}
| abbreviation        = PTA
| parent_organization = [[Government of Pakistan]]
| date1               = 
| date1_name          = 
| date2               = 
| date2_name          = 
| preceding1          = 
| preceding2          = 
| dissolved           = 
| superseding         = 
| region_served       = [[Pakistan]]
| headquarters        = [[Islamabad]]
| employees           = 
| budget              = 
| key_people          = Chairman, Member Finance, Member Compliance and Enforcement
| leader_name         = Major General (R) Hafeez ur Rehman
| leader_title        = Chairman
| chief3_name         = 
| chief3_position     = 
| website             = {{URL|www.pta.gov.pk}} 
}}

The '''Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA)''' ({{langx|ur|{{nq| ‎مقتدرہِ ٹیلی مواصلات پاکستان}}}}) is the telecommunication regulator of Pakistan, responsible for the establishment, operation and maintenance of telecommunication systems and the provision of telecommunication services in Pakistan. Headquartered in [[Islamabad]], PTA also has zonal offices located in [[Karachi]], [[Lahore]], [[Peshawar|Faisalabad, Gawadar, Abottqbad, Sukkur, Peshawar]], [[Quetta]], [[Muzaffarabad]], [[Rawalpindi]], [[Multan]] and [[Gilgit]].

== History ==
The Pakistan Telecommunication Ordinance 1994, established the primary regulatory framework for the telecommunication industry including the establishment of an authority. Thereafter, Telecommunication (Re-Organization) Act no XVII was promulgated in 1996 that aimed to reorganize the telecom sector of Pakistan. Under Telecom Reorganization Act 1996, Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) was established in 1996 to regulate the establishment, operation and maintenance of telecommunication systems and the provision of telecom services.

==Functions==
To regulate the establishment, operation and maintenance of telecommunication systems and provision of telecommunication services in Pakistan. To receive and expeditiously dispose of applications for the use of radio-frequency spectrum.
To promote and protect the interests of users of telecommunication services in Pakistan. To promote the availability of a wide range of high quality, efficient, cost effective and competitive telecommunication services throughout Pakistan. To promote rapid modernization of telecommunication systems and telecommunication services. To investigate and adjudicate on complaints and other claims made against licensees arising out of alleged contraventions of the provisions of this Act, the rules made and licenses issued there under and take action accordingly. which led the government to publish a tax on the electronic device attached by the telecommunication service brought from overseas to Pakistan.
To make recommendations to the Federal Government on policies with respect to international telecommunications, provision of support for participation in international meetings and agreements to be executed in relation to the routing of international traffic and accounting settlements.

==Responsibilities of Authority==
In exercising its functions and powers under the Act, the authority ensures:
* Rights of licensees are duly protected.
* All of its decisions and determinations are made promptly, in an open equitable, non discriminatory, consistent and transparent manner.
* All applications made to it are disposed of expeditiously;
* The persons affected by its decisions or determination are given a due notice thereof and provided with an opportunity of being heard.
* It encourages, except subject to the exclusive right of the company in basic telephone service, fair competition in the telecommunication sector.
* The interest of users of telecommunication services are duly safeguarded and protected.
* Preventing unlawful online content.

== Leadership ==
The Authority consists of a chairman, member (finance) and member (compliance & enforcement).

Chairman PTA is Major General (R) Hafeezur Rehman. Previously it was vacant as Major General (R) Amir Azeem Bajwa HI(M) relinquished the charge after completion of tenure. Muhammad Naveed is Member (Finance) and Dr. Khawar Siddique Khokhar is Member (Compliance & Enforcement).<ref>{{Cite news|last=Yousafzai|first=Amin|date=17 January 2019|title=Amir Azeem Bajwa Appointed as the New Chairman PTA|work=ProPakistani|url=https://propakistani.pk/2019/01/17/amir-azeem-bajwa-appointed-as-the-new-chairman-pta/|access-date=24 March 2021}}</ref>

{{hidden begin|ta1=center|border=1px #aaa solid|expanded=y|title=Ex-Chairmen Pakistan Telecommunication Authority<ref> {{Cite web |url=https://www.pta.gov.pk/category/ex-chairmen-113118101-2023-05-30 |title=Ex-Chairmen - Pakistan Telecommunication Authority |date= May 5, 2023|website=PTA}}</ref>}}
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+
!No.
!Name
!Office Held
!Retired
!Notes (if any)
|-
|1.
|Mian Muhammad Javed
|8th May 1995
|26th December 2000	
|
|-
|2.
|Khalid Bashir
|28th December 2000
|1st November 2001	
|Major General (Pak-Army)
|-
|3.
|Shahzada Alam Malik
|15th January 2002
|23rd July 2008
|Major General (Pak-Army)
|-
|4.
|Mohammed Yaseen
|24th July 2008
|23rd July 2012
|Doctor (PhD)
|-
|5.
|Farooq Ahmed Awan
|31st July 2012
|15th January 2013
|
|-
|6.
|Syed Ismail Shah
|30th September 2013
|11th November 2017
|Doctor (PhD)
|-
|7.
|Muhammad Naveed
|9th April 2018
|21st January 2019
|
|-
|8.
|Amir Azeem Bajwa
|22nd January 2019
|3rd January 2023
|Major General (Pak-Army)
|}
{{hidden end}}

==Licensing==
[[File:Muhammad Naveed with Houlin Zhao - 2018 (42558469445).jpg|thumb|right|Acting Chairman Muhammad Naveed with [[Houlin Zhao]] in 2018]]

=== NGMS Spectrum Auction 2004 ===
PTA conducted first spectrum auction in 2004, in which a total of 13.6&nbsp;MHz spectrum in 900 and 1800&nbsp;MHz was sold at US$582 Million. As a result of auction, Telenor and Warid Telecom entered Pakistan's telecom market.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2 December 2021|title=Spectrum Auction and the Case Study from Pakistan|url=https://www.itu.int/en/ITU-D/Regional-Presence/AsiaPacific/Documents/Events/2015/March-DigitalEconomy/Session3-2_Syed_Ismail_Shah_1.pdf}}</ref>

===NGMS Spectrum Auction 2014===
PTA auctioned spectrum for 3G and 4G services in 2014. One 4G license and three 3G licenses were finally auctioned on 23 April 2014.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/398709-businessman-linked-to-al-qaeda-missing-since-feb-shc-told|title=Businessman 'linked to Al Qaeda' missing since Feb, SHC told|website=www.thenews.com.pk}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dawn.com/news/1080928/pakistan-plans-3g-licence-auction-by-march|title=Pakistan plans 3G licence auction by March|last=AFP|date=17 January 2014|access-date=10 April 2017}}</ref> The 4G license was bagged by [[Zong (mobile network operator)|Zong]] (as well as 10&nbsp;MHz 3G license), while the 3G licenses were auctioned to [[Telenor]] (5&nbsp;MHz), [[Mobilink]] (10&nbsp;MHz) and [[Ufone]] (5&nbsp;MHz). While [[Warid Pakistan]] was the only operator in Pakistan not to bid on the auction; Later on, Warid started LTE services using a previously acquired technology neutral license. The auction raised a total of $1.22 billion including 10% advance tax for the government of Pakistan.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/islamabad/24-Apr-2014/govt-auctions-3g-4g-licences-for-1-1bn |title=Govt auctions 3G, 4G licences for $1.1bn |website=www.dailytimes.com.pk |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140424093125/http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/islamabad/24-Apr-2014/govt-auctions-3g-4g-licences-for-1-1bn |archive-date=2014-04-24}}</ref>

=== NGMS Spectrum Auction 2016 ===
Another auction was held in June for a 10&nbsp;MHz block in the 850&nbsp;MHz (Band 5) frequency, the base price was set at US$395 million.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://propakistani.pk/2016/04/29/pta-releases-information-memorandum-for-850mhz-spectrum-auction/|title=PTA Releases Information Memorandum for 850MHZ Spectrum Auction|date=2016-04-29|access-date=2017-04-01}}</ref> [[Telenor Pakistan]] was the only bidder in the auction and won the license for 850&nbsp;MHz which it now uses for 3G ([[Evolved High Speed Packet Access|HSPA+]]) and [[LTE (telecommunication)|LTE]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/1114816/next-generation-mobile-services-telenor-wins-850mhz-spectrum-licence/|title=Telenor wins 850MHZ spectrum licence - The Express Tribune|date=2016-06-02|work=The Express Tribune|access-date=2017-04-01|language=en-US}}</ref>

=== NGMS Spectrum Auction 2017 ===
PTA plans to hold another auction on 16 May 2017 to auction a 10&nbsp;MHz block in the 1800&nbsp;MHz (Band 3) frequency, which was un-sold in the 2014 NGMS auction.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://propakistani.pk/2017/03/31/pta-hold-4g-auction-may-16th-im-released/|title=PTA to Hold 4G Auction on May 16th, IM Released|date=2017-03-31|access-date=2017-04-01}}</ref>

The base price will be set at US$295 million.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://propakistani.pk/2017/03/28/official-pakistan-auction-4g-spectrum-295-million/|title=Official: Pakistan to Auction 4G Spectrum for $295 Million|date=2017-03-28|access-date=2017-04-01}}</ref>

It was first mentioned that Ufone could've been the only operator to participate in the 2017 NGMS auction,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://propakistani.pk/2017/04/04/ufone-operator-participate-4g-spectrum-auction/|title=Ufone Could Be the Only Operator to Participate in 4G Spectrum Auction|date=2017-04-04|access-date=2017-05-02 |quote=Although Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has made the upcoming auction for Next Generation Mobile Services (NGMS) spectrum (3G/4G) more lucrative for new entrants, it remains pessimistic about the participation of any new player.}}</ref> however as of 24 April 2017, PTA officials had revealed that all telecom operators have shown great interest in the available spectrum and the auction has been delayed to 24 May 2017 on the request of all telecom operators.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://propakistani.pk/2017/04/24/pta-delays-4g-spectrum-auction/|title=PTA Delays 4G Spectrum Auction|date=2017-04-24|access-date=2017-05-02}}</ref>

Contrary to earlier rumours and statements, the only operator to bid for the 1800&nbsp;MHz 4G spectrum in the 2017 auction would be [[Jazz Pakistan|Jazz]], the other operators, Telenor, Zong and Ufone did not submit any applications and a statement from PTA mentioned that Jazz was the only operator to submit the application before the deadline which was 17 May 2017.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://propakistani.pk/2017/05/17/breaking-jazz-becomes-operator-bid-4g-spectrum/|title=Breaking: Jazz Becomes Only Operator to Bid for 4G Spectrum|date=2017-05-17|access-date=2017-05-18}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://profit.pakistantoday.com.pk/2017/05/17/jazz-emerges-as-sole-operator-to-bid-for-4g-spectrum/|title=Jazz emerges as sole operator to bid for 4G spectrum {{!}} Profit by Pakistan Today|last=Ahmadani|first=Ahmad|date=17 May 2017|access-date=2017-05-18}}</ref>

On 18 May 2017, [[Jazz Pakistan|Jazz]] became the winner of the 4G spectrum auction. It will be officially awarded the spectrum after the fee is paid.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://propakistani.pk/2017/05/19/pta-notifies-jazz-winner-4g-spectrum-auction/|title=PTA Notifies Jazz as the Winner of 4G Spectrum Auction|date=2017-05-19|access-date=2017-05-20}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://netmag.pk/jazz-became-winner-4g-spectrum-duniya-ko-bta/|title=Jazz became the winner of 4G spectrum: Dunya Ko Bataa Do {{!}} NetMag Pakistan|date=2017-05-19|work=NetMag Pakistan|access-date=2017-05-20|language=en-US}}</ref>

=== NGMS Spectrum Auction 2021 ===
PTA held a spectrum auction in September 2021, for both 1800&nbsp;MHz (Band 3) and 2100&nbsp;MHz (Band 1).<ref>{{Cite web|date=6 August 2021|title=Here's Everything You Need to Know About The Upcoming Spectrum Auction in Pakistan|url=https://propakistani.pk/2021/08/06/heres-everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-upcoming-spectrum-auction-in-pakistan/|access-date=30 September 2021|website=ProPakistani}}</ref> Only one network operator participated in the auction, [[Ufone]] (PTML) submitted a bid for 2x9 MHz in the 1800&nbsp;MHz band which it won for US$279 million.<ref>{{Cite web|date=10 September 2021|title=PRESS RELEASE|url=https://www.pta.gov.pk/en/media-center/single-media/press-release-100921|access-date=30 September 2021|website=Pakistan Telecommunication Authority}}</ref>

=== NGMS Spectrum Auction 2021 (AJK & GB) ===
A separate spectrum auction was held by PTA specifically for the [[Azad Kashmir|Azad Jammu & Kashmir]] and [[Gilgit-Baltistan|Gilgit Baltistan]] regions for both 1800&nbsp;MHz and 2100&nbsp;MHz bands.<ref>{{Cite web|date=23 September 2021|title=PTA NOTIFIES QUALIFIED APPLICANTS FOR SPECTRUM AUCTION IN AJ&K AND GB 2021|url=https://www.pta.gov.pk/en/media-center/single-media/pta-notifies-qualified-applicants-for-spectrum-auction-in-ajk-and-gb-2021-230921|access-date=30 September 2021|website=Pakistan Telecommunication Authority}}</ref> Both [[Zong (mobile network)|Zong CMPak]] and [[Jazz (mobile network operator)|Jazz]] (PMCL) participated in the auction for 2x10 MHz of 1800&nbsp;MHz, however after 18 rounds, Zong was declared as the winner of the 10&nbsp;MHz block. Telenor, Ufone and Zong also won an additional 1.2&nbsp;MHz in the same band.<ref>{{Cite web|date=28 September 2021|title=Zong Beats Jazz to Win the 4G Spectrum in AJK & GB|url=https://propakistani.pk/2021/09/28/zong-beats-jazz-to-win-the-4g-spectrum-in-ajk-gb/|access-date=30 September 2021|website=ProPakistani}}</ref>

PTA stated that none of the operators except [[Telenor Pakistan]] decided to participate in the auction for 2100&nbsp;MHz, so Telenor was awarded 2x15 MHz in the 2100&nbsp;MHz band at the base price.<ref>{{Cite web|date=28 September 2021|title=SPECTRUM AUCTION FOR AJ&K AND GB HELD|url=https://www.pta.gov.pk/en/media-center/single-media/spectrum-auction-for-ajk-and-gb-held-290921|access-date=30 September 2021|website=Pakistan Telecommunication Authority}}</ref>

== 5G ==
PTA has been struggling to release 5G internet in Pakistan for quite a while. Initially planned to release in 2022, 5G internet in Pakistan was delayed due to a number of different factors pertaining to economic factors, dynamic political power shifts, with the most primary of which were the [[2022 Pakistan floods|devastating floods of 2022]].

The launch of 5G services in the country were then delayed to June 2023 with a revised plan for July 2023, however the plan to implement 5G services was dropped to focus on first developing 4G services with a targeted penetration level of 60% before development in the 5G sector can be started again, as of now no updated timeline has been specified for the rollout of 5G services in the country.

5G internet trials performed in Pakistan by KPITB and PTCL reported to achieve trial speeds reaching 1.685 giga bytes per second with Jazz Telecom reporting trial speeds of 1.452 giga bytes per second.

== Blocked Content ==
{{See also|Internet censorship in Pakistan}}

=== PUBG Controversy ===
In July 2020, PTA banned the online game [[PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Media Center {{!}} PTA|url=https://www.pta.gov.pk/en/media-center/single-media/pta-temporarily-suspends-pubg-game-010720|access-date=2020-07-28|website=www.pta.gov.pk}}</ref>  Millions of [[Social media]] users of Pakistan have flooded sites like [[Facebook]], [[Twitter]] and have shown overwhelming support for PUBG ([[PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds]]).<ref>{{Cite web|title=Pakistani PUBG Players are Tweeting to PM Imran Khan to Unban the Popular Game|url=https://www.news18.com/news/buzz/pakistani-pubg-players-are-tweeting-to-pm-imran-khan-to-unban-popular-game-2737503.html|access-date=2020-07-28|website=News18|date=27 July 2020}}</ref> In response, PTA lifted ban on the popular online game.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Jahangir|first=Ramsha|date=2020-07-28|title=Ban on PUBG to remain in interest of public order: PTA|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1571533|access-date=2020-07-28|website=DAWN.COM|language=en}}</ref>

=== TikTok ===
In October 2020, PTA blocked [[TikTok]] for failing to filter out "immoral and indecent" content.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Agencies|date=9 October 2020|title=PTA blocks TikTok for 'immoral and indecent' content|url=https://profit.pakistantoday.com.pk/2020/10/09/pta-blocks-tiktok-for-immoral-and-indecent-content/|access-date=11 October 2020|website=Profit by Pakistan Today|language=en-US}}</ref> Soon after, TikTok made an agreement to moderate the content available in Pakistan and the ban was lifted.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Ray|first=Siladitya|date=19 October 2020|title=Pakistan Reverses Ban On TikTok After Platform Agrees To Follow 'Societal Norms'|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/siladityaray/2020/10/19/pakistan-reverses-ban-on-tiktok-after-platform-agrees-to-follow-societal-norms/|access-date=19 December 2020|website=Forbes|language=en-US}}</ref>

In March 2021, PTA said that a court ordered to block TikTok due to complaints from "indecent" content.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Ahmad|first=Asif Shahzad, Jibran|date=2021-03-11|title=Pakistan to block social media app TikTok over 'indecency' complaint|language=en|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-pakistan-socialmedia-tiktok-idUSKBN2B329C|access-date=2021-03-11}}</ref>

=== Wikipedia ===
The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority banned Wikipedia in the country due to "sacrilegious content" in February 2023. Several days later, Prime Minister [[Shehbaz Sharif]] ordered the immediate restoration of access to the online encyclopaedia website, and established two cabinet committees to review the PTA's action and suggest alternative measures for removing or blocking access to objectionable content on Wikipedia and other online information sites.<ref>{{Cite news |title=(Prime Minister) PM orders immediate restoration of Wikipedia across Pakistan |date=6 February 2023 |url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/2399664/pm-orders-immediate-restoration-of-wikipedia-across-pakistan |newspaper=The Express Tribune (newspaper)|access-date=12 July 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-02-04 |title=PTA blocks Wikipedia across Pakistan |url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/2399362/pta-blocks-wikipedia-across-pakistan |access-date=2023-02-07 |website=The Express Tribune |language=en}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[E-Safety Authority]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://pta.gov.pk PTA official website]
* [https://www.pta.gov.pk/index.php/en?Itemid=320 official website]
* [https://facebook.com/PakistanTelecommunicationAuthority PTA Official facebook page]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070305055627/http://www.dhartipakistan.com/2006/12/20/pakistan-telecommunications-regulatory-survey/ Pakistan: Leader in providing regulatory services on-line]

{{Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication|state=autocollapse}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:1996 establishments in Pakistan]]
[[Category:Government agencies established in 1996]]
[[Category:Telecommunications regulatory authorities]]
[[Category:Regulatory authorities of Pakistan]]