The Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication (MoITT) has received feedback on the draught 5G strategic plan and policy guidelines from mobile phone operators, which it has forwarded to the 5G advisory group.
The high-power advisory council will investigate these feedbacks and provide incentives for the release of 5G spectrum, which might be included in the finance bill for 2022-23.
According to the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunications, all three main telecom operators have provided feedback on the draught 5G strategic plan and policy guidelines issued by the ministry in the first week of January.
The ministry has forwarded these recommendations to the former government’s Advisory Committee on 5G, which was constituted in the last week of January to assess the 5G strategic plan.
Following the creation of the new administration, the committee is anticipated to meet after Eid to evaluate these recommendations.
According to MoITT sources, telecom operators have proposed lowering the withholding tax from 15% to 10%, which the government announced in the telecom sector’s roadmap in the last budget, but which was later increased to 15% in the mini-budget.
According to the telecom industry, such a high tax rate will stymie the rollout of 5G and discourage fresh investment.
Telecom operators have offered fresh ideas to the ministry regarding the rollout of 5G, according to the ministry.
In consultation with all stakeholders, the advisory committee on 5G, led by the Finance Minister, will examine and approve the 5G Strategic Plan in order to facilitate the launch of 5G services in the country.
The committee will finalize telecom changes and incentives to support the 5G technology ecosystem, and make sure they are included in the Finance Bill 2022.
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