“Spectrum is the invisible infrastructure behind every call, every payment, every online classroom – to unlock Pakistan’s digital future, we need a pricing and policy framework that encourages investment, not hesitation,” Amir Ibrahim, CEO of Jazz and Chairman of the Telecom Operators Association (TOA), recently told the government.

The government is serious about enhancing digital inclusion and acknowledges that every additional megahertz of spectrum is not just about better technology; it is about inclusion and growth of services like fintech, healthtech, edtech, cloud, entertainment etc that improve lives and livelihoods.

But this vision rests on a strong foundation of reliable, high-quality connectivity and is only possible with adequate availability of spectrum.

The spectrum shortage is the single biggest reason behind network congestion, dropped calls, and slower data speeds experienced by users every day in the country.

The state and private sector disagree over spectrum auctions as the country continues to struggle with stunted internet connectivity

Pakistan currently operates on just 274 MHz of spectrum, less than half of what regional peers enjoy and far below........

© Dawn Business