PTA Proposes 10-Year Licences Under New Radio-Based Services Rules
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority has proposed a new regulatory framework for radio-based services that includes a 10-year licence term, and has invited industry stakeholders to comment on the draft before the rules are finalised, ProPakistani reported on Wednesday.
The consultation covers the Draft Radio-Based Services (RBS) Regulations, 2026. The authority is seeking feedback from industry stakeholders and other relevant organisations before the framework becomes law.
What the draft covers
The proposed framework spans several categories of radio-based services: Land Mobile Private Networks (LMPN) using very high frequency (VHF), microwave links, Mobile Satellite Applications (MSA), Mobile Satellite Services (MSS) and amateur radio.
The regulations aim to set the rules for licensing and regulating these services under the PTA’s authority, effectively writing a single rulebook for a set of technologies that currently sit under older or scattered permissions.
For readers, the satellite categories are the ones to watch. Mobile Satellite Services cover voice and data delivered directly via satellite, the segment where global players such as Starlink operate. Feature Pakistan’s beginner’s guide to Starlink explains how satellite internet reaches users — the kind of service that would fall squarely under the new MSS licensing regime once the rules are final.
How to submit feedback
The PTA has asked licensees and other stakeholders to submit comments through a prescribed form. Respondents must identify their organisation and licence category, specify the proposed regulation they wish to address, suggest changes and explain the reasoning behind their recommendations.
The consultation lets industry participants raise concerns about licensing requirements, regulatory obligations and the practical implementation of the proposed rules. They can also recommend changes to individual provisions to address operational challenges and clarify requirements for different categories of radio-based services.
The feedback process is part of the PTA’s stated effort to gather stakeholder input before finalising the regulations. The complete draft will need close reading to establish the precise details — licence duration, fees, renewal procedures, eligibility criteria and enforcement requirements.
Part of a wider regulatory push
The draft lands amid a busy stretch for the telecom regulator. The PTA recently moved to scrap the one-year limit on revisiting telecom mergers, seeking the power to reopen merger decisions well after the fact. It has also sought authority to redefine telecom competition rules, a move that could push mobile package prices up.
Industry watchers have already cautioned against rushed policymaking — telecom players recently warned Pakistan against a hasty 5G launch, arguing the market is not ready. The RBS consultation will test whether the PTA’s stakeholder process produces rules the industry can actually live with.
Frequently asked questions
What are the Radio-Based Services Regulations 2026?
A draft PTA framework that would set licensing and operational rules for VHF private networks, microwave links, mobile satellite applications and services, and amateur radio.
How long would licences last?
The draft proposes a 10-year licence term, though fees, renewals and eligibility details are still to be settled after consultation.
How can stakeholders give feedback?
Through a prescribed PTA form identifying their organisation and licence category, the regulation they are addressing, their suggested changes and the reasons for them.
*Source: ProPakistani*
