Pakistan Finalizes $510m Auction for 3500 MHz 5G Spectrum

Pakistan – (Web Desk) – The second phase of the 5G spectrum auction finished on Thursday. Telecom companies secured important spectrum bands that will help launch 5G services in Pakistan. Officials say this step moves the country closer to faster and more advanced mobile networks.

Many experts see this phase as a key moment for the future of digital connectivity in Pakistan. It prepares the ground for next generation mobile services that can support faster internet, smart devices, and modern technology.

Federal Minister for IT and Telecom Shaza Fatima Khawaja said the auction will bring about $510 million to the government. She added that it will also help speed up the arrival of 5G services across the country.

The auction took place at the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority office. Telecom operators competed for the best spectrum positions. They placed bids for the 2600 MHz and 3500 MHz frequency bands. These bands are very important for building strong and reliable 5G networks.

After the bidding ended, the results were announced by Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja and the chairman of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority.

Officials shared that the bidding for the 2600 MHz band finished in three rounds. The 3500 MHz band took longer and ended after five rounds of bidding.

Once the process was complete, the final positions for both spectrum bands were announced at the same time. This marks another step forward for Pakistan’s plan to launch 5G services.

During the auction briefing, PTA DG Licensing Aamir Shahzad said that three telecom operators participated in the auction and purchased 480 MHz of spectrum. He explained that in the second phase, operators were bidding for band positioning rather than additional spectrum allocation.

According to Shahzad, the auction began with the 2600 MHz positioning bid, followed by bidding for the 3500 MHz band.

The first round of bidding for the 2600 MHz band started with a 15-minute session in which all three telecom companies participated through online bidding. Interest remained strong as the process moved into the second round, where the positioning price for the 2600 MHz band was set at $100,000.

All three operators continued to participate, and the process entered the third round, after which the 2600 MHz positioning was finalized, with each telecom company selecting its respective position.

The 3500 MHz positioning auction began at 12:30pm, with the IT minister formally inaugurating the process. The bidding continued through five rounds, with telecom companies maintaining their positions through the early rounds.

In later rounds, the bid amount increased sharply from $100,000 to $1 million, reflecting strong competition among operators.

Despite the rising price, none of the telecom companies relinquished their preferred positions, and the bidding concluded successfully after the fifth round.

Announcing the results, IT Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja confirmed that the government of Pakistan will receive $510 million from the 5G spectrum auction. She said that 480 MHz of spectrum has been sold, and the telecom operators purchased it using their own resources.

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According to the minister, all auction procedures have now been completed successfully. Shaza Fatima said the successful auction marks Pakistan’s entry into the era of 5G technology. She described the development as an important milestone in the country’s digital transformation, adding that it is “good news for the entire nation, especially the youth.”

The minister said that 5G will not only improve existing 4G services but will also introduce faster and more reliable connectivity across Pakistan.

The it ministers announced that the pilot project for 5G services will start next week. She noted that the availability of additional spectrum will significantly increase internet speed and improve connectivity in the country.

According to her, Pakistan previously operated on 274 MHz of spectrum, but with the latest allocation, the country now ranks among nations with above-average spectrum availability.