Pakistan has rolled out a sweeping new regulatory framework for telecommunication equipment certification, embedding internationally recognized technical standards into the country’s approval process for the first time in a codified, comprehensive manner.
The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), with the federal government’s nod, notified the Telecommunication Equipment Standards Regulations through an SRO published in the Gazette of Pakistan. The regulations took effect immediately and cast a wide net, applying to telecom licensees, manufacturers, and importers alike.
The move is designed to standardize how telecom gear is tested and certified before it hits the Pakistani market, while simultaneously imposing fresh compliance obligations across the supply chain.
Under the new regime, the PTA has established uniform technical benchmarks for different classes of telecommunication equipment, along with detailed procedures for testing and certification. The framework draws on standards set by a roster of heavyweight international bodies: the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI), the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), the European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization (CENELEC), and the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC).
The regulations span a broad technical landscape, covering electromagnetic compatibility (EMC), health and safety requirements, optical and laser safety, radio frequency communications, mobile devices, satellite communication systems, and other telecommunications equipment. Specific technical benchmarks have also been defined for GSM, LTE, UMTS, Wi-Fi, GPS, RFID, NFC, microwave systems, base stations, and satellite communication devices.
To obtain a Certificate of Compliance (CoC), applicants must now submit applications backed by test reports from accredited laboratories that meet the prescribed international standards. All telecom equipment testing must conform to PTA-specified standards, though the Authority retains the flexibility to adopt additional standards where no specific technical benchmark has been prescribed.
In a move that tightens the regulatory grip, the regulations render all PTA directives, notifications, standard operating procedures, and orders legally binding on stakeholders. Telecom licensees, manufacturers, and importers are also required to maintain updated equipment records for a minimum of three years and furnish them to the PTA on demand.
The Authority has additionally been empowered to run public awareness campaigns across print, electronic, and social media to support the rollout and implementation of the new framework.
