Following the start of 3G and 4G in the four provinces and federal territory, Government is planning to extend the service to Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) in this year.
This was decided in a top level meeting which was headed by Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) Chaudhry Barjees Tahir and Minister of State for Information Technology and Telecommunication Ms Anusha Rehman in Islamabad.
It was agreed by the ministers that the next generation technology will be extending to the Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK). An auction for sale of 3G and 4G licences will be held in September 2016.
Anusha Rehman informed Barjees Tahir that upgrading of the existing GSM cellular networks is in progress in Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu Kashmir under the Public Sector Development Programme together with Special Communication Organization.
The Information Technology Ministry is ready to provide the people in northern areas and Kashmir with latest advanced technologies and a coming together policy between cellular companies will be brought out for success in hard areas which was assured by Ms Rehman to Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan.
It was promised by the Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif the provision of advanced telecommunication infrastructure for people of Kashmir and GB which will be kept in the coming future. Barjees Tahir said that Rs. 1.4 million for the replacement of the present GSM infrastructure to be issued soon.
April 14, 2014, saw the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) held a successful auction of four 3rd Generation (3G) and one 4th Generation (4G) licenses. Another 4G license was also acquired by Warid Telecom afterwards. Currently Zong, a Chinese telecom conglomerate, is the only cellular company providing 4G, 3G and GSM services countrywide.