The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority has notified new regulations making compliance with prescribed technical standards mandatory for telecom equipment manufactured, imported or deployed in the country, with a PTA-issued Certificate of Compliance required before equipment can enter operational use.
The Telecommunication Equipment Standards Regulations, 2024, have been notified through the Gazette of Pakistan under S.R.O. 1110(I)/2026 following approval from the federal government.
Issued under Section 28 of the Pakistan Telecommunication (Re-organization) Act, 1996, the regulations apply to PTA licensees as well as manufacturers and importers of telecommunications equipment.
Certificate of Compliance becomes mandatory
Under the new framework, covered telecom equipment will need to comply with technical requirements prescribed by the PTA before it can be imported, deployed or placed into operational service.
A Certificate of Compliance, or CoC, issued by the authority will be mandatory.
The requirement introduces a formal compliance checkpoint intended to ensure equipment entering Pakistan's telecommunications ecosystem meets applicable standards before deployment.
The source does not specify individual equipment categories, certification timelines, testing procedures or transitional arrangements for equipment already in the market.
Regulations cover RF, EMC and safety requirements
The framework includes standards covering Electromagnetic Compatibility, Radio Frequency characteristics, health and safety, and other applicable technical specifications.
EMC requirements are intended to ensure electronic equipment can operate without producing unacceptable electromagnetic interference or being excessively affected by interference from other equipment.
RF requirements are particularly important for telecommunications equipment because devices operating outside permitted technical parameters can cause harmful interference to licensed networks and other spectrum users.
Health and safety provisions add another layer of compliance for equipment entering commercial and operational environments.
Rules apply to manufacturers, importers and PTA licensees
The regulations extend beyond telecom network operators.
Manufacturers and importers are also covered, meaning compliance requirements will apply earlier in the equipment supply chain rather than only when hardware is installed by a licensed telecom provider.
This could have implications for vendors supplying network infrastructure, radio equipment and other telecommunications hardware into Pakistan.
The PTA said the regulations were developed following consultations with licensees, importers, manufacturers, vendors and other industry stakeholders.
PTA targets interoperability and equipment quality
The authority said the framework is intended to promote compatibility and interoperability with international telecommunications systems while improving service standards.
Standardising technical requirements can help reduce the risk of incompatible, poorly performing or non-compliant equipment entering national networks.
It can also provide equipment vendors and operators with a clearer technical baseline when planning procurement and deployment.
The PTA said the regulations are also intended to encourage local manufacturing and contribute to technological advancement and economic growth.
For domestic manufacturers, however, the practical impact will depend on how certification, testing and compliance processes are implemented and whether local testing infrastructure is available at an appropriate cost.
Compliance regime strengthens regulatory oversight
The introduction of mandatory certification gives the PTA a more direct mechanism for controlling the technical characteristics of telecommunications equipment before it becomes operational.
That becomes increasingly relevant as telecom networks incorporate a wider range of radios, connected devices, network equipment and other infrastructure capable of affecting spectrum performance and service reliability.
A clearly defined equipment standards regime can also support more consistent enforcement by establishing common technical requirements for imported and locally manufactured products.
Source: MEA Tech Watch Press Reporter
