Pakistan Announces Results Of Historic 5G Spectrum Auction

ISLAMABAD (Mudassar Chaudhary/ Web Desk) – Pakistan has announced the results of its 5G spectrum auction, marking a major step toward launching next-generation mobile services in the country. The event was attended by Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, IT Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, and Chairman of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority Hafeez-ur-Rehman.

During the ceremony, the PTA offered approximately 600 MHz of spectrum for auction to telecom operators. Chairman PTA Hafeez-ur-Rehman announced that the first stage of the auction focused on band allocation across several frequency ranges.

According to the details, three lots were available in the 700 MHz band, of which two were successfully sold. In the 2300 MHz band, all five available lots were purchased. Similarly, all 19 lots in the 2600 MHz band were sold during the auction process.

In the 3500 MHz band, a total of 28 lots were offered, with 22 lots successfully sold, amounting to around 220 MHz of spectrum. The PTA chairman further revealed that one telecom company acquired 190 MHz of spectrum, another purchased 180 MHz, while a third operator secured 110 MHz.

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The first phase of the auction generated approximately $507 million, with the total value of the 5G spectrum auction reaching nearly Rs144.5 billion. Overall, about 480 MHz of the 597.2 MHz spectrum offered was successfully auctioned.

Speaking on the occasion, IT Minister Shaza Fatima said the auction marked a historic moment for Pakistan’s telecommunications sector. She noted that the country previously had only 274 MHz of spectrum available, which contributed to slower internet speeds compared to other countries in the region.

The minister expressed confidence that the expansion of spectrum will significantly improve connectivity and digital services across Pakistan. She also acknowledged the support of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in advancing the country’s digital and telecom infrastructure.