Pakistan has completed its long-awaited 5G spectrum auction, marking a major step toward launching next-generation internet services in the country.
The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) announced the final results after three rounds of bidding, confirming that 480 MHz of spectrum was successfully auctioned to telecom operators.
Speaking at the ceremony, PTA Chairman Major General (retd) Hafeezur Rehman said the auction concluded successfully with strong participation from the telecom industry.
A total of 480 MHz out of approximately 595–597 MHz available spectrum was sold during the bidding process.
“The industry did not show stinginess. This is Pakistan’s victory,” the PTA chairman said. The spectrum was auctioned for $507 million, making it one of the largest spectrum auctions in Pakistan’s history.
Distribution of spectrum among telecom companies
According to PTA, three telecom operators secured spectrum in the auction.
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Jazz acquired 190 MHz of spectrum
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Ufone secured 180 MHz
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Zong obtained 110 MHz
PTA confirmed that the spectrum assignment phase will take place on March 12, which will finalize positioning for telecom operators.
Details of spectrum bands auctioned
The spectrum was auctioned across several frequency bands.
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700 MHz band: 3 lots available, 2 lots sold
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2300 MHz band: All lots sold
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2600 MHz band: 19 lots available and all sold
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3500 MHz band: 22 out of 28 lots sold
Overall, 480 MHz of spectrum was auctioned, while the remaining portion remained unsold.
Competitive bidding across three rounds
The auction process involved three rounds of bidding due to strong demand for certain bands. The 2600 MHz band emerged as the most popular, triggering intense competition among telecom operators.
PTA said there were 26 bids for 19 available lots in the 2600 MHz band.
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In the first round, demand exceeded supply with 11 additional bids.
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In the second round, there were 7 additional bids.
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In the third round, the price was increased again due to strong demand.
The base price for the 2600 MHz band initially stood at $12.5 million per lot.
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After a 5% increase in the second round, the price reached $13.15 million per lot.
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Following another 5% increase in the third round, the price climbed to $13.7 million per lot.
Bidding process and participation
During the first round of bidding, 190 MHz spectrum in the 2600 MHz band was available. According to PTA DG Aamir Shahzad, all three telecom operators participated actively in the auction.
PTA said 30 bids were received for 19 lots in the 2600 MHz band, while additional bids for 11 lots forced the price adjustment.
The 3500 MHz band had 28 lots available, and bids were received for 20 lots. The second round of bidding lasted 30 minutes, according to PTA.
Govt calls auction historic milestone
Federal IT Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja described the auction as a historic moment for Pakistan’s technology sector.
“Today is one of the most important days in Pakistan’s history,” she said. “This is the day of a technological revolution.”
She noted that Pakistan had previously entered the 3G and 4G era during former prime minister Nawaz Sharif’s tenure, and now the country is preparing to join the list of nations offering 5G services.
“This auction will double Pakistan’s spectrum,” she said.
5G to launch by end of year
The IT minister announced that 5G services will initially launch in five major cities. These include:
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Islamabad
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Lahore
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Karachi
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Peshawar
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Quetta
The services are expected to roll out by the end of this year. She said high-speed internet is essential for Pakistan’s digital transformation.
“Every sector, including agriculture, health, education and defense, now depends on high-speed internet,” she said.
Digital economy, internet speed expected to improve
Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb also addressed the ceremony and said the government aims to provide fast and affordable internet to the public.
He said the rollout of 5G would help advance the Prime Minister’s Digital Pakistan vision. “5G will be an assistant for the digital economy,” the finance minister said.
PTA highlights importance of telecom industry
PTA Chairman Hafeezur Rehman said the successful auction marks a major milestone but emphasized that the next phase depends on telecom companies.
“Now the ball is in the court of the telecom industry,” he said. “With 5G, existing services will also improve.”
He described the upgrade as replacing Pakistan’s development engine with a better engine.
Telecom operators welcomed the successful completion of the auction. Zong management congratulated the PTA and IT Ministry and said the company will remain competitive in the 5G era.
“Zong will not be left behind in 5G,” company representatives said.
Telecom executives praise transparency
PTCL Group CEO Aamir Ibrahim said the auction process was transparent and inclusive. “Those who wanted the spectrum were able to get it,” he said.
He added that PTCL will continue to drive Pakistan’s digital journey forward.
Meanwhile, Jazz CEO said the company already has 180 sites ready for 5G deployment starting tomorrow.
The information minister also praised the transparency of the auction. He said the process was conducted according to the prime minister’s instructions to ensure fairness.
“I thank the companies participating in the auction,” he said, adding that collaboration between the public and private sectors will help bring a digital connectivity revolution in Pakistan.
Expanding digital infrastructure for future technologies
In an exclusive interview with Samaa TV, IT Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja said the auction will significantly expand Pakistan’s digital infrastructure. She noted that Pakistan had previously been operating with 274 MHz spectrum, but the new auction will significantly expand capacity.
Providing 600 MHz spectrum for the auction was a major challenge, she added. The expansion of spectrum will support new technologies such as artificial intelligence, blockchain, online education, and remote work.
“With more spectrum and better connectivity, Pakistan will be able to grow its economy more smoothly,” she said.
Improved internet access for millions of users
According to the IT minister, the upgrade will also improve services for millions of existing mobile users. Nearly 98% of Pakistanis currently using 3G and 4G services are expected to benefit from improved speeds and network quality.
She said the expansion of Pakistan’s digital highway will lead to faster, cheaper, and more reliable connectivity across the country.
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