PTA Starts Inspecting Telecom Towers Backup Power to Prevent Mobile Service Disruptions

The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has started physical inspections of backup power systems installed at telecom towers across the country. The regulator wants to ensure that mobile services remain available during electricity outages and prolonged load-shedding.

PTA teams from its zonal offices in Karachi, Lahore, Rawalpindi, Quetta, Abbottabad, Peshawar, Multan, Faisalabad, and Muzaffarabad have started visiting telecom sites in their respective areas. The inspection drive covers both urban and rural locations.

During the inspections, PTA officials are checking the availability and condition of backup power equipment at telecom towers. This includes batteries, generators, and solar power systems that operators use when grid electricity is unavailable.

PTA Starts Inspecting Telecom Towers Backup Power to Prevent Mobile Service Disruptions

The teams are giving particular attention to areas that face frequent or extended power outages. They are checking whether backup systems can keep telecom sites operational during these interruptions and whether the equipment is functioning properly.

Local representatives and their nominees are also accompanying the PTA teams during the inspections. Their involvement will help identify locations where mobile signals become weak or disappear completely during power outages.

Mobile users in several areas have complained that network coverage and mobile internet services are affected when electricity supply is disrupted. A telecom tower may continue to provide service only as long as its backup power system remains operational. If the backup system runs out or fails, nearby users can experience dropped calls, weak signals, or a complete loss of connectivity.

The issue becomes more important in areas where power outages last for several hours or occur repeatedly. Reliable backup systems can help telecom operators maintain essential communication services during such periods.

PTA Chairman Maj Gen Hafeez Ur Rehman (Retd), HI (M), SI, has directed the authority’s zonal offices to continue carrying out these inspections regularly. The regulator is using the exercise to identify gaps in the backup arrangements maintained at telecom sites.

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The inspections will also help the PTA assess the performance of alternative power sources at different locations. Where backup systems are inadequate or not working properly, the regulator can identify sites that may require additional equipment or improvements.

The initiative comes as reliable mobile connectivity becomes increasingly important for calls, mobile internet, digital payments, online services, businesses, and emergency communication. Any prolonged network outage can affect users who depend on mobile services for both personal and professional activities.

By regularly checking backup power arrangements, the PTA aims to identify potential service risks before they lead to wider disruptions. The inspection process will provide the regulator with a clearer picture of the power backup situation at telecom towers across different parts of Pakistan.

The ongoing checks are therefore focused not only on the availability of backup equipment but also on its actual functionality. This could help telecom operators address weak points and maintain more consistent mobile services during electricity disruptions.