APT symposium in Islamabad backs gigabit roadmap for universal service funds
The Asia-Pacific Telecommunity Symposium on Digital Transformation and the Universal Service Fund concluded in Islamabad on Thursday with a regional USF gigabit broadband roadmap, shifting universal service funds from basic voice coverage toward gigabit fibre, satellite connectivity and AI-ready digital ecosystems.
USF gigabit broadband: what the forum agreed
According to a statement by the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication, the three-day forum, co-hosted with USF Pakistan, aligned members on shifting universal service funds toward agile, outcome-oriented frameworks that support high-speed fibre and resilient digital infrastructure.
The 10 sessions covered future-proofing universal service funds, low-cost fibre backhaul, mobile broadband, satellite connectivity and green telecom infrastructure for underserved and rugged areas. Regulatory incentives, device subsidy programmes and financing models for affordability were also examined, along with digital literacy programmes for women and girls and support for digital entrepreneurship to close the gender digital divide.
APT Secretary-General Masanori Kondo announced the conclusion, calling the symposium a platform for practical exchanges and partnerships that advance the Tokyo Statement 2025 commitments. USF Pakistan chief executive Chaudhary Mudassar Naveed thanked the APT, the PTA and the operators and technology partners, including Jazz, PTML, Zong, Huawei and GSMA.
Pakistan’s $1 billion USF milestone
The symposium doubled as a showcase for Pakistan’s own numbers. IT Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja announced that USF Pakistan has crossed $1.054 billion in deployed contracted subsidies, completing 158 of 185 awarded projects and directly benefiting more than 38.4 million people.
The minister also said Pakistan is close to finalising a Fixed Satellite Service framework for satellite internet, after consultations with relevant institutions. She cited rapid progress elsewhere: the gender gap in mobile internet use has fallen from 38 per cent to 8 per cent, three new submarine cables have landed in two and a half years, fibre home passes have risen from under three million in 2024 to more than five million, and the share of mobile towers connected to fibre has grown from under 15 per cent to over 19 per cent, with a target of at least 60 per cent.
The next step, she said, is moving beyond basic voice and 4G toward gigabit fibre broadband, low-earth orbit satellite links, affordable smartphone financing and AI-powered services for rural communities.
Why the shift matters
For decades, universal service funds were judged by tower counts in remote regions. The Islamabad roadmap repositions them as drivers of socio-economic development, built on four pillars: gigabit broadband expansion, emerging technologies such as AI and LEO satellites, sustainable funding and governance, and multi-stakeholder collaboration.
Stakeholders also stressed local content and ecosystems, pushing for culturally appropriate, language-specific digital services and e-government platforms to stimulate local economies and drive adoption. Delegates reviewed regional digital progress under the Tokyo Statement 2025 and aligned regional strategies.
For Pakistan’s telecom sector, the test will be delivery in tough terrain and among low-income households. Readers following the sector can also see our report on the PTA scrapping its one-year telecom review limit, another sign of the regulator’s shifting posture.
FAQ
What is the USF gigabit broadband roadmap?
A regional plan agreed at the APT symposium in Islamabad to shift universal service funds from basic voice coverage toward gigabit fibre, satellite connectivity, AI readiness and affordable devices.
How much has USF Pakistan spent?
USF Pakistan has deployed $1.054 billion in contracted subsidies across 185 awarded projects, of which 158 are complete, benefiting more than 38.4 million people.
What is Pakistan’s satellite internet framework?
A Fixed Satellite Service framework for satellite internet services, which the IT minister says is in its final stages and will be announced after consultations with relevant institutions.
