ISLAMABAD, April 24: The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has proposed a comprehensive plan to improve connectivity in Chitral’s underserved areas, aiming to reduce frequent outages and strengthen network reliability in one of Pakistan’s most remote regions.
According to a document reviewed by Wealth Pakistan, the initiative focuses on expanding telecom infrastructure, improving power backup, and reducing reliance on a single fibre link that has repeatedly disrupted services across the district.
Persistent outages and limited infrastructure
Chitral, spanning about 14,850 square kilometres with a population exceeding 515,000, faces significant connectivity challenges due to its mountainous terrain, harsh weather, and limited network redundancy. Much of the region depends on a single fibre network operated by Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited, leaving services vulnerable to fibre cuts and prolonged blackouts.
Mobile coverage exists across Upper and Lower Chitral, but service quality varies. Lower Chitral experiences relatively better coverage but faces congestion, while Upper Chitral remains largely underserved, with many sites still operating on 2G and delivering low data speeds due to outdated equipment and limited backhaul capacity.
Among operators, Telenor Pakistan has the widest footprint, followed by Jazz, Ufone, and Zong. However, operator presence remains thin in remote areas, contributing to service bottlenecks.
Fixed-line infrastructure is minimal and concentrated in Chitral city and Drosh. Alongside PTCL, smaller providers such as Cybernet and Pace Telecom offer limited fibre connectivity, but low penetration and lack of redundancy continue to weaken network stability.
PTA’s upgrade roadmap
To address these gaps, the PTA plans to introduce fibre redundancy through ring topology to reduce single-point failures. The strategy also includes upgrading 2G-only sites to LTE, deploying new towers in underserved areas under the Universal Service Fund, and strengthening power backup systems to maintain service continuity.
Authorities are also working to restore non-functional exchanges and expand broadband access. Currently, fixed-line connections in the district remain limited, with just over 6,600 subscribers, mostly in urban centres.
In a broader policy move, the PTA has begun issuing district-level internet service licences from January 2026 to encourage local operators to expand coverage in commercially less viable regions.
Following the March 2026 spectrum auction, telecom operators have been directed to roll out at least 1,000 new 4G and 5G sites annually over the next nine years, with proportional distribution across rural and urban areas.
The nationwide 5G rollout will begin in major cities — including Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar, and Quetta — before expanding to smaller urban centres.
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