Pakistan Railways cannot use its existing telecommunications license to directly provide commercial internet or WiFi services to passengers, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has told a Senate committee.
In a written response to the Senate Standing Committee on Information Technology and Telecommunication, PTA said Pakistan Railways holds a special license issued under Section 5(2)(a) of the Pakistan Telecommunication (Reorganization) Act, 1996.
The license allows the department to operate a dedicated telecommunications system for its own noncommercial data and value-added services.
However, the license does not allow Pakistan Railways to offer public or commercial telecom services. PTA said this is also in line with the Telecom Policy 2015, which restricts purpose-specific licenses issued to government and autonomous bodies to their institutional use.
PTA said internet is currently available on only three to five Pakistan Railways trains through cellular mobile operators.
The regulator said Pakistan Railways can expand WiFi to more trains by partnering with licensed cellular or satellite operators.
Under such arrangements, the onboard WiFi system can use cellular or satellite connections for internet backhaul, allowing Pakistan Railways to provide passenger connectivity without directly operating a commercial telecom service.
