ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has issued security guidelines for 5G networks, marking a significant step toward the country’s planned 5G launch in March 2026.
The guidelines aim to ensure the secure installation and operation of 5G networks while protecting users’ data and the national telecom infrastructure.
According to PTA, the 5G security standards are aligned with international best practices and designed to safeguard national security and economic stability. The authority highlighted that 5G’s cloud-native and virtualized architecture increases the risk of cyber threats.
Key provisions include: home network-controlled authentication to prevent roaming fraud and unauthorized network registrations, network slice security providing strict isolation for applications such as IoT and public safety, measures to protect end-user devices and edge computing infrastructure, identified as high-risk points, enhanced protection of core networks, including authentication, session management, and national-level communications, adoption of the zero-trust security model, requiring continuous verification of every user and device, mandatory cryptographic standards for 5G communications to ensure robust security and emphasis on user privacy protection and secure handling of sensitive data.
The PTA stressed that these guidelines are essential for mitigating cyber threats and ensuring a safe, resilient 5G network ahead of the March 2026 launch target.
This proactive step demonstrates Pakistan’s commitment to secure and technologically advanced 5G deployment.
