Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) is planning to upgrade its Device Identification, Registration and Blocking System (DIRBS) and has invited consultants to build an artificial intelligence powered Digital Intelligence System for the platform. The regulator issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) for consultancy services under a single stage, one envelope procurement process, with the selected consultant expected to deliver fully functional software capable of handling routine DIRBS operations.
According to the RFP, the scope of the project goes beyond consultancy or software development alone. PTA has stated that the successful bidder will be required to complete the system in full and ensure it can manage all DIRBS related tasks during day to day operations, rather than simply offering recommendations or a partial build. The document outlines the project scope, implementation timeline, terms of reference, and financial requirements that bidders must meet, along with details on their key staff, prior experience, ongoing contracts, and overall financial strength. However, PTA has not disclosed which specific artificial intelligence models or algorithms the new system will be built around, with the available RFP focused primarily on procurement, consultancy, implementation, and software delivery requirements.
PTA has also indicated that it will maintain close oversight of the consultant’s expert team throughout the project. Key personnel assigned to the contract must meet specific qualification and experience requirements set by the authority, and PTA has reserved the right to request replacements if any expert fails to meet the expected standard of performance. The RFP additionally addresses provisions related to serious misconduct, criminal activity, fraud, and corruption, giving PTA the ability to seek replacement of any personnel found to be involved in such conduct during the course of the contract.
Financial controls form another part of the proposed agreement, with payments required to remain within the foreign and local currency limits agreed upon in the final contract, and any spending beyond those limits requiring a formal contract amendment. While the available RFP does not disclose an estimated project cost, bidders are required to submit detailed financial quotes alongside their technical proposals. The initiative comes as Pakistan’s telecom sector continues to expand, with regulators increasingly relying on more advanced digital systems to manage mobile devices and subscriber data across the country.
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