Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has introduced the Critical Telecom Data and Infrastructure Security Regulations (CTDISR) 2025, a revised cybersecurity framework aimed at strengthening protections across the country’s telecom sector. The updated regulations replace CTDISR 2020 after extensive consultations with industry stakeholders and a detailed review process. PTA said the revision was essential to address the challenges posed by rapid technological changes, increasing digital adoption, and the growing sophistication of cyberattacks targeting communication systems.
The regulatory body highlighted that Pakistan’s accelerated embrace of technologies such as 5G, IoT devices, artificial intelligence, and machine learning has expanded both opportunities and risks. Cybercriminals are now leveraging AI-driven phishing, deepfakes, ransomware, and supply chain vulnerabilities, which have exposed critical gaps in the previous framework. Industry audits and feedback from telecom operators revealed that CTDISR 2020 no longer provided sufficient safeguards, leading PTA to design CTDISR 2025 as a more adaptive and comprehensive model aligned with global best practices. Emerging technologies like low-earth orbit satellites and Wi-Fi 7 have further complicated data flows, making it imperative to secure exchanges at multiple levels while protecting against threats stemming from misinformation, social engineering, and insider risks.
CTDISR 2025 introduces 19 sections and 104 controls that reshape how operators manage digital security. The framework emphasizes continuous asset monitoring, real-time risk management, enhanced data privacy protections, and stricter access controls with mandatory multi-factor authentication. Cloud environments—whether public, private, or hybrid—now fall under dedicated security requirements, while a new section addresses insider threats from employees and contractors. Business continuity planning is also made compulsory to ensure that critical services remain available during emergencies. A major addition is mandatory integration with the National Telecom Security Operations Center (NTSOC), enabling coordinated real-time monitoring and faster national-level responses to cyberattacks. This unified approach aims to prevent fragmented defenses and enhance overall resilience of telecom infrastructure.
PTA has aligned CTDISR 2025 with international standards such as ISO/IEC 27001 and the NIST Cybersecurity Framework, ensuring interoperability, reliability, and global consistency. This alignment not only raises the security bar for telecom operators but also strengthens Pakistan’s position in the international digital economy by fostering trust in its regulatory environment. For operators, compliance will require significant investments in new technologies, stronger internal controls, employee training, and more rigorous HR protocols such as background checks. However, these steps are expected to boost long-term resilience and deliver tangible benefits to consumers through better data protection and improved reliability of services. PTA believes the implementation of CTDISR 2025 will also contribute positively to Pakistan’s global cybersecurity ranking and support the government’s broader digitalization agenda.
The release of CTDISR 2025 underscores PTA’s commitment to safeguarding critical telecom infrastructure in the face of evolving threats. By mandating risk-based governance, cloud security, insider threat detection, and centralized national defense mechanisms, the framework sets a new standard for cybersecurity in Pakistan’s telecom industry and lays a stronger foundation for the country’s digital future.
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