This public consultation proposal issued by the RBS Directorate of the Wireless Licensing Division of the PTA. Its objective is to review and amend the current regulatory framework for Short Range Devices (SRD) and the Terrestrial Internet of Things (IoT) in Pakistan, with a particular emphasis on Low Power Wide Area Networks (LPWAN).

The original regulatory framework laid the groundwork for fostering the IoT ecosystem in the country, allowing both the use of unlicensed (shared) and licensed frequency bands, although the primary emphasis was on frequency sharing for IoT services. Specifically, it contemplated the issuance of LPWAN licenses under certain conditions detailed in Section 2.2.2 (ii) of the original document.

The purpose of this new consultation is to present the current operational status of existing LPWAN licenses, most of which have proven ineffective or inactive, and to seek feedback from industry stakeholders on how to limit licensing to truly committed applicants, in order to improve the efficiency and usefulness of these services.

WHOM DOES IT IMPACT?

The direct impact is on LPWAN license holders, investors and operators interested in entering the IoT market, IoT solution developers and startups, public and private institutions using IoT services, and regulatory authorities.

CONCLUSION:

The impact is significant because it has profound consequences for the expanding IoT ecosystem. It changes the rules of the game for current and future licensees, strengthens government oversight, and indirectly benefits end users and developers who rely on functional and reliable IoT infrastructure.