Telecom companies in Pakistan have provided the government with detailed data on their electricity usage and costs as they seek industrial electricity rates for the sector.

The information submitted to the government task force includes power consumption, electricity bills, telecom site numbers, current commercial rates and the expected savings from switching to industrial tariffs.

Operators have also shared details of power outages, network disruptions, diesel expenses and backup power systems. This includes information on sites using generators, the duration of outages and the effect of power cuts on telecom services.

The government is currently working on a mechanism to extend industrial electricity tariffs to telecom operators after giving the sector industrial status.

A task force comprising officials from the IT Ministry, Power Division, NEPRA, PTA, telecom companies and power distribution firms has already held meetings on the issue.

The task force is also looking at dedicated power feeders and smart-grid solutions to keep telecom networks running during extended power outages.

The data submitted by operators will be reviewed before the government decides how industrial electricity rates can be applied to the telecom sector.