Pakistan rolls out next generation 'Wi-Fi 6E' in 6GHz band

The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has announced the country’s another milestone by unveiling 6 Gigahertz (GHz) spectrum band for unlicensed operation for RLAN (Radio Local Area Networks) — also called Wi-Fi 6E.

With the unlocking of this band, Pakistan has become the 10th country in Asia Pacific to embrace 6GHz for Wi-Fi. Currently, only 60 countries worldwide have unlocked 6GHZ (full or partial) for RLAN (Wi-Fi) services, according to an official statement issued by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) on Thursday.

This announcement was made in an event titled “Unlocking Pakistan's Connectivity: Enablement of Next-Gen Wi-Fi in 6GHz Band”.

Speaking on the occasion, PTA Chairman Major General (retd) Hafeez Ur Rehman, said that this development has positioned Pakistan as a regional frontrunner in embracing next generation RLAN (Wi-Fi) technology, joining a select group of forward-thinking nations in Asia to unlock the transformative potential of Wi-Fi 6E.

At the event, speakers from META, Dynamic Spectrum Alliance (DSA), Jazz, Nayatel and Huawei shed light on the benefits of embracing Wi-Fi 6E in Pakistan.

According to the PTA, Wi-Fi in Pakistan currently operates in two bands: 2.4GHz and 5GHz, with available bandwidths of 100 MHz and 150 MHz, respectively.

However, these Industrial, Scientific & Medical (ISM) bands are accommodating multiple applications, including everyday technologies like Microwave Oven, Bluetooth, and Cordless Phones, co-exist with Wi-Fi, resulting in congestion. Wi-Fi 6e will overcome the congestion and latency issues, an official statement read.

PTA, under the government’s vision of “Digital Pakistan”, aims to ignite a wave of digital innovation to empower businesses and bridge the digital divide by providing more reliable and high-speed internet access, ultimately fostering a more inclusive digital economy in Pakistan, the statement added.