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Pakistan telecom equipment needs a PTA Certificate of Compliance before import or use, with 5G test standards now set

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By TrustList Editorial

PTA notified its Telecommunication Equipment Standards Regulations (S.R.O. 1110(I)/2026): equipment needs a Certificate of Compliance before import, deployment or use. Outlets reported on 28 September that 5G test standards are set.

About Pakistan telecom equipment needs a PTA Certificate of Compliance before import or use, with 5G test standards now set

Pakistan telecom equipment needs a PTA Certificate of Compliance before import or use, with 5G test standards now set

28 September 2026 — The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) announced on 8 September 2026 that it has notified the Telecommunication Equipment Standards Regulations, 2024 in the Gazette of Pakistan as S.R.O. 1110(I)/2026, with federal government approval, under section 28 of the Pakistan Telecommunication (Re-organization) Act, 1996. In PTA's words, a Certificate of Compliance "is mandatory prior to import, deployment, or operational use" of telecommunication equipment. On 28 September ProPakistani and PhoneWorld reported that PTA has now prescribed the technical test standards for 5G devices and base stations under the same regulations.

What PTA itself says

According to PTA's release, the regulations apply to all PTA licensees, manufacturers and importers of telecommunication equipment. All equipment, whether made locally, imported or deployed in networks, must meet the prescribed technical standards, including electromagnetic compatibility, radio frequency, and health and safety requirements. PTA says the rules were drawn up after consultation with importers, licensees, manufacturers and vendors, and that they aim at global compatibility, interoperability and local manufacturing. PTA's type-approval page lists the application form, the accredited laboratories whose test reports it accepts in China and elsewhere, and guidelines of June 2026 for accrediting testing labs with the Pakistan National Accreditation Council.

What the 5G standards cover, as reported

According to the two reports of 28 September:

  • 5G New Radio devices will be tested for radio transmission and reception and for protocol conformance, against international 5G user-equipment standards covering radio performance, spectrum access and electromagnetic compatibility.
  • 5G base stations get separate radio-conformance requirements; PhoneWorld says the basis is 3GPP and ETSI conformance standards.
  • Technology-specific standards are also set for GSM, UMTS, LTE and CDMA2000 devices and base stations.
  • Applicants must attach test reports from accredited laboratories when applying for a Certificate of Compliance.

Neither report gives a date from which the 5G standards apply or any transition period.

Who is affected

Mobile operators and other PTA licensees rolling out 5G, importers and distributors of handsets, routers, fixed-wireless and IoT devices, base-station and radio vendors, and local assemblers. Buyers of network equipment for projects in Pakistan should expect suppliers to hold a certificate before shipment clears.

What to do

  • Check that every telecom product you import, sell or deploy in Pakistan has, or is applying for, a PTA Certificate of Compliance.
  • Ask vendors for test reports from a PTA-accepted accredited laboratory against the current 3GPP and ETSI conformance standards, including 5G New Radio where relevant.
  • Build certificate time into delivery plans; PTA states seven working days for a complete application.
  • Ask PTA or your trade association for the standards schedule and its start date before placing large 5G orders.

Not yet independently verified. The 5G device and base-station standards are known from two outlets of 28 September; PTA’s own standards schedule could not be read on its website, and no start date or transition period for them has been found. The Certificate of Compliance requirement is confirmed by PTA’s release of 8 September. We will update this when it can be confirmed, and remove this note.

Sources

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