ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has formally launched a spectrum auction that is expected to pave the way for the rollout of 5G services while also improving the quality of existing 4G networks across the country.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the auction for Next Generation Mobile Services (NGMS)/5G in Islamabad, Federal Minister for IT and Telecom Shaza Fatima Khawaja said the government had accepted major demands from telecom operators to ease their financial burden and encourage participation in the bidding process.
According to officials, the government is expected to generate between $300 million and $700 million through the auction. Three telecom companies are currently participating, and the bidding process may continue through several rounds.
The IT minister said Pakistan’s telecom system has been operating on only 274 megahertz (MHz) of spectrum, which has led to network congestion and poor user experience. To address this issue, the government is offering 600 MHz of spectrum in the current auction.
Four new spectrum bands have been introduced, and telecom operators will be required to acquire at least 100 MHz each. With a minimum combined acquisition of 300 MHz, the total available spectrum in the country’s telecom system will effectively double.To ensure the rollout of 5G services, operators must obtain spectrum in the 3500 MHz and 2600 MHz bands, which are essential for 5G technology.
The 700 MHz band is also being offered for the first time, enabling long-distance coverage and improved connectivity in populated and remote areas.Fatima noted that Pakistan entered the 3G and 4G era between 2014 and 2016, and no major spectrum auction had been held since then, contributing to declining internet quality and increasing demand on existing networks.
She said the auction would not only introduce 5G services but also significantly improve the capacity and performance of current 4G networks. Citizens are expected to begin seeing improvements in 4G services within four to five months after the auction, while 5G services could initially launch in Islamabad and provincial capitals within five to six months.
The minister also highlighted that the government had removed right-of-way charges for telecom infrastructure to accelerate fibre network expansion and that a national fibreisation plan would soon be introduced to support telecom companies in expanding their infrastructure.
Addressing the ceremony, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb described the spectrum auction as a historic milestone for Pakistan’s digital transformation.He said the framework for the auction was designed to balance revenue generation with the creation of an enabling environment for technological growth and innovation.
Aurangzeb added that greater spectrum availability and the rollout of 5G would also support emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, blockchain and Web 3.0, helping Pakistan move toward a modern digital economy.
Meanwhile, Pakistan Telecommunication Authority Chairman Hafeez Ur Rehman said the auction marked the beginning of a new technological era for the country. He described 5G as a “digital highway” that would improve connectivity, including in remote regions, and said the government had taken key steps to support the telecom sector, including eliminating right-of-way charges that previously cost up to Rs36,000 per kilometre.
Officials say the spectrum auction is expected to significantly expand digital connectivity and support the country’s growing digital economy.
