ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s state-run Special Communication Organization has begun expanding next-generation telecom services in Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir, targeting long-standing connectivity gaps in some of the country’s most remote regions.
The initiative targets areas long underserved due to extreme terrain and high operational costs, with Special Communication Organization (SCO) deploying high-altitude towers, fibre-optic links, and modern network systems to extend mobile and data coverage in some of the country’s most inaccessible mountainous regions.
Through the installation of high-altitude towers and modern network systems across rugged terrain, SCO has expanded mobile and data coverage, setting new milestones in Pakistan’s telecommunications sector.
Under Phase IV of the Next Generation Mobile Services (NGMS) project, the organization has launched 4G services in multiple locations and is preparing the groundwork for future 5G deployment.
The expansion includes new fiber-optic and backhaul networks, substantially improving data speeds and service quality. Officials say the enhanced connectivity is enabling greater access to online education, remote work, and digital skills development, particularly for young people in remote communities.
Improved digital infrastructure is also supporting economic growth by encouraging e-commerce, freelancing, and entrepreneurship, allowing residents to participate in the digital economy without migrating to urban centers.
Tourism—one of the region’s key economic drivers—is expected to benefit significantly. Reliable mobile and internet services are improving access to real-time navigation, weather updates, emergency communication, and digital mapping in high-altitude areas near globally renowned peaks such as K2, Nanga Parbat, Rakaposhi, and the Karakoram Range.
Local communities are increasingly using online platforms to promote guesthouses, trekking services, cultural tourism, and handicrafts, connecting remote valleys directly with international markets.
With sustained investment in modern telecommunications, Pakistan’s northern belt is positioning itself as a globally connected hub for adventure and eco-tourism, supporting sustainable development while strengthening local livelihoods.
