Pakistan’s proposed amendments to the Pakistan Telecommunication (Re-organisation) Act, 1996 seek to address long-standing barriers to fibre infrastructure deployment by introducing right-of-way provisions designed to simplify network expansion. The proposed reforms aim to reduce delays in obtaining infrastructure access, enabling telecom operators to accelerate broadband deployment and strengthen the country’s digital connectivity ambitions.
Right-of-Way Reforms Aim to Accelerate Fibre Infrastructure
The proposed amendments introduce Sections 27A and 27B to establish a clearer legal framework for telecom infrastructure deployment, particularly for fibre networks. According to the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication (MoITT), the reforms are intended to remove regulatory bottlenecks that slow network expansion while maintaining legal safeguards for private property owners.
Government officials have stated that the amendments do not authorise compulsory acquisition of private land. Instead, they seek to streamline access procedures for deploying telecom infrastructure, similar to right-of-way frameworks adopted in several international markets.
Fibre Infrastructure Supports Broadband and Future Networks
The proposed reforms come as Pakistan continues to expand broadband connectivity while increasing fibre coverage across its telecommunications network. Although the country has more than 162 million broadband users, only a small percentage of telecom towers are currently connected through fibre, limiting network capacity and future technology deployment.
Expanding fibre infrastructure is expected to improve broadband performance while providing the high-capacity backhaul required for 5G networks, cloud services, artificial intelligence applications and enterprise digital transformation. Faster deployment processes could also encourage greater private investment in national telecom infrastructure.
Modern Telecom Laws Enable Long-Term Digital Growth
The proposed amendments reflect broader efforts to modernise Pakistan’s telecommunications framework to support growing digital connectivity requirements. By simplifying right-of-way procedures for fibre deployment, the reforms aim to reduce project delays, improve infrastructure rollout and strengthen the country’s readiness for next-generation digital services.
As governments worldwide continue updating telecom regulations to support fibre expansion, streamlined infrastructure policies are increasingly recognised as a critical enabler of broadband growth, network resilience and digital economic development.
Pakistan’s proposed telecom law amendments place fibre infrastructure at the centre of future network expansion by introducing right-of-way reforms designed to simplify deployment. If implemented, the measures could accelerate broadband rollout, strengthen telecom infrastructure and support the country’s long-term digital transformation objectives.