Pakistan plans to drastically improve its digital infrastructure by extending the fiber optic connectivity to 7.5 million homes and achieving fiber to site coverage (FTTS) of 80 percent in the next five years, announced the Ministry of IT and Telecommunication (MOITT).
These objectives are a central part of the next National Fiberization Policy, which is prepared under the project to improve the digital economy (DEEP). The initiative aims to reinforce the country’s fixed broadband infrastructure and increase the average discharge speeds to 60 Mbps throughout the country.
A dedicated project management unit (PMU) is being recruited to supervise the development of politics. Once established, the PMU will hire a consulting company through a competitive tender process to help finish the policy framework.
This strategic movement is designed to prepare Pakistan for emerging technologies such as 5G and Internet of Things (IoT), while guaranteeing robust digital connectivity.
The policy emphasizes the investment of the private sector and aims to eliminate the long -standing deployment barriers when focusing on key areas such as the rationalization of the positions of passage of passage (row), rationalize the approval procedures and promote infrastructure exchange.
According to Moitt, Pakistan currently has more than 211,000 kilometers of fiber optic cable, divided by 75,967 km long distance and 135,506 km of metropolitan fiber. However, the authorities say that this infrastructure is insufficient to meet the growing technological needs of demand and evolution.
MOTIT’s telecommunications wing leads the development of policies in collaboration with the Telecommunications Authority of Pakistan (PTA) and the interested parties of the industry. A series of consultations are planned to develop shared cost models and single window authorization systems.
Politics is also aligned with broader economic objectives, promoting local manufacturing of fiber optic components to reduce import dependence.
The final draft of the National Fiberization Policy is expected to be completed by the end of the year, preparing the stage for a digitally connected Pakistan and ready for the future.
