Pakistan Railways is pursuing the allocation of Long Term Evolution for Railways (LTE-R) spectrum for the Karachi-Sukkur section of the ML-1 railway project, as authorities move to modernize communication infrastructure across the country’s railway network.
The initiative is part of a broader strategy led by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) to improve mobile connectivity and quality of service along major railway routes, motorways, highways, tourist destinations and other underserved areas.
According to official documents, the PTA is working with cellular mobile operators (CMOs), the Universal Service Fund (USF) and other relevant stakeholders to address persistent mobile coverage gaps across important transport and tourism corridors.
Under the proposed strategy, telecom operators will be encouraged to accelerate network expansion by deploying additional Base Transceiver Stations (BTS) and gradually introducing 5G services along key routes. The USF, meanwhile, will focus on commercially unviable areas where private-sector investment may be limited, including remote transport corridors.
The authorities are also exploring infrastructure sharing among telecom operators to reduce network deployment costs and improve coverage efficiency. Satellite connectivity is another option being considered for locations where conventional telecom infrastructure is difficult or expensive to deploy.
In addition, the PTA is promoting national roaming on highways, allowing users to access available networks where their primary operator may have limited coverage. The facility is already operational on the Makran Coastal Highway under a USF-funded project.
The latest initiative follows directions for developing a comprehensive strategy to address long-standing mobile coverage and quality-of-service issues along Pakistan's major railway, road and tourism corridors.
The allocation of LTE-R spectrum for the Karachi-Sukkur section could support the modernization of railway communications and contribute to the broader digital transformation of Pakistan's transportation infrastructure.
