Federal Minister for IT & Telecommunication Shaza Khawaja recently convened a high-level meeting with Mr. Khalifa AlShamsi, CEO of Etisalat International, and Mr. Hatem Bamatraf, CEO of PTCL, to review and discuss the current developments shaping Pakistan’s telecom sector. The engagement focused on key strategies aimed at strengthening network infrastructure, accelerating sector consolidation, and enhancing service quality across the country. This initiative reflects the government’s broader efforts to support innovation and investment in the telecom industry while advancing Pakistan’s digital transformation agenda.
During the meeting, significant attention was given to reviewing the progress of the PTCL–Telenor merger. The discussions explored how sector consolidation could create synergies, streamline operations, and strengthen Pakistan’s competitive positioning in the regional telecom landscape. Preparing for the upcoming spectrum auction was another key agenda point, with stakeholders emphasizing the importance of increasing network capacity to meet the growing demands of consumers and businesses. These measures are seen as critical for ensuring that Pakistan’s telecom networks can support high-speed connectivity and emerging technologies, including 5G and AI-driven solutions.
The ministers and executives also discussed nationwide fiberization, including tower fiberization targets, as a cornerstone of improving network coverage and service reliability. Expanding fiber infrastructure is intended to enhance internet accessibility and quality, particularly in underserved areas, while supporting advanced applications such as cloud computing and AI-enabled services. PTCL’s role in developing AI-powered data centre services was highlighted as an essential component of Pakistan’s digital growth, providing enterprise-grade solutions to support startups, businesses, and government digital initiatives. The meeting underscored that investments in AI-enabled infrastructure are key to fostering innovation and sustaining long-term sector growth.
The discussions reflected a continued commitment to improving network quality, reliability, and efficiency, alongside advancing policy reforms to strengthen the regulatory and operational environment of the telecom sector. By focusing on infrastructure expansion, AI adoption, and consolidation strategies, the government and industry leaders aim to build a resilient telecom ecosystem capable of supporting emerging technologies, digital services, and increased internet penetration across Pakistan. Stakeholders agreed that these efforts are pivotal in driving economic growth, enabling digital inclusion, and preparing the sector for future technological challenges.
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