Pakistan Railways Requests LTE-R Band for ML-1 Corridor

Efforts are underway to modernize rail telecommunications in Pakistan as national authorities work to secure dedicated spectrum for major transit corridors. Official documents indicate that Pakistan Railways has formally requested the allocation of a Long Term Evolution for Railways (LTE-R) band specifically for the Karachi to Sukkur stretch of the Main Line-1 (ML-1) project.

The spectrum request aligns with a comprehensive strategy managed by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) aimed at enhancing mobile connectivity and Quality of Service across transportation networks. Under this initiative, telecom operators, the Universal Service Fund (USF), and government entities are collaborating to eliminate dead zones along railway tracks, motorways, trunk highways, and remote tourist spots.

According to details reported by Business Recorder, cellular operators are being directed to accelerate network expansion along these routes. This effort involves deploying additional Base Transceiver Station (BTS) sites and executing a structured rollout of 5G infrastructure. Meanwhile, USF interventions will address commercially non-viable transport stretches to guarantee continuous digital access.

To lower capital deployment expenses, the regulatory body is promoting passive and active infrastructure sharing among telecom providers. Additionally, satellite communication solutions are being evaluated to deliver connectivity to geographically challenging terrain where traditional tower deployment remains difficult.

The broader connectivity framework also emphasizes national roaming across major highways. A similar arrangement is already functioning along the Makran coastal highway, serving as a model for inter-operator network sharing across rural and long-distance transport routes.