Pakistan's telecom regulator has proposed a one-year trial window that would let companies and institutions carry out IoT testing before they bring connected products to market. The proposal is part of a draft set of rules, the IoT and Low Power Wide Area Networks Licensing Regulations 2026, prepared by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA). Under the draft, the trial would sit in a registration category rather than a full licence.
What the draft proposes
The new category would cover research, development and testing of connected devices and the networks that link them. A registration under it would stay valid for one year and would apply only to networks built inside a single premises. The stated purpose is to give organisations room to try new connected-device products in a contained setting before they move into commercial use.
IoT refers to objects such as meters, sensors and trackers that send and receive data over the internet. Low Power Wide Area Networks, or LPWAN, are designed to carry small amounts of data from such devices over long distances while using little power.
Fees and paperwork
Applicants would pay a starting registration charge of Rs2,000. A separate processing charge of Rs1,000 would not be refunded, which brings the upfront total under the draft to Rs3,000. Applicants would also file technical specifications and supporting papers through the regulator's online portal.
Rules on satellite and backend links
The draft also sets conditions for companies relying on satellite links and similar services to move data between their own network equipment. Under the proposal, IoT operators would need to channel every backend data flow, satellite links included, via a Local Access Provider that holds a PTA licence. Applicants must also name whichever licensed carrier links their gateways to the central servers. The regulator has cautioned that relying on an unlicensed provider for this link could put the operator's licence or registration at risk.
What happens next
The proposed rules would apply nationwide to IoT and LPWAN services and sort them into three tiers: licensed, registered and exempt. They would come into force only after appearing in the official gazette, the government's official notification channel. Because the document is still a draft, its terms, including the fees, could change before the final version is notified.
Aasan alfaaz mein
PTA ne IoT aur LPWAN devices ke liye ek saal ki test registration tajweez ki hai. Is ke tehat companies aur tanzeemein ek hi site par connected devices aur networks ka test kar sakti hain. Starting fee Rs2,000 aur processing fee Rs1,000 hogi, jo kul Rs3,000 banti hai. Yeh abhi draft hai aur gazette mein shaye hone ke baad hi lagu hogi, is liye aam ghar abhi wazeh tor par koi tabdeeli nahi mehsoos karenge.
