Pakistan Railways seeks LTE-R band for Karachi-Sukkur ML-1 section
- Pakistan Telecommunication Authority moves to expand modern communications infrastructure across the country’s railway corridors
Pakistan Railways is seeking LTE-R band allocation for the ML-1 project, aligning with PTA's broader plan to enhance mobile coverage and quality of service across railway corridors and underserved regions.
- PTA's strategy for improving mobile coverage and QoS.
- Telecom operators' network expansion and phased 5G deployment.
- Infrastructure sharing, satellite connectivity, and national roaming initiatives.
ISLAMABAD: Long Term Evolution for Railways (LTE-R) band allocation for the Karachi-Sukkur section of the ML-1 railway project is being pursued by Pakistan Railways as the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) moves to expand modern communications infrastructure across the country’s railway corridors.
Official documents reveal that the move is part of a broader PTA-led plan to improve mobile coverage and quality of service (QoS) along railway routes, motorways, highways, tourist destinations and other underserved areas in coordination with cellular mobile operators (CMOs), the Universal Service Fund (USF) and relevant stakeholders.
Under the plan, telecom operators will be required to accelerate network expansion through additional BTS sites and phased 5G deployment, while USF projects will focus on commercially unviable areas, including transport corridors.
The PTA is also pursuing infrastructure sharing among operators to lower deployment costs and exploring satellite connectivity for difficult-to-cover locations.
National roaming on highways is another option being promoted, with the facility already operational on the Makran Coastal Highway under a USF-funded project.
The initiative follows directions for a comprehensive strategy to address persistent mobile coverage and QoS gaps along major transport and tourism corridors.
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