Mohammad Tanveer
Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja has announced that Pakistan’s auction of 600MHz spectrum is expected to be completed by early next year, a move aimed at significantly improving internet quality and enabling the rollout of 5G services across the country.
Speaking at a press conference in Islamabad alongside Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, the IT minister said that the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) had approved the recommendations of the Spectrum Advisory Committee. Finance Minister Aurangzeb confirmed that the approved recommendations would now be presented to the federal cabinet for final approval.
Following cabinet endorsement, Khawaja said the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) would issue an Information Memorandum, after which formal consultations and negotiations would be held with telecom operators and other stakeholders.
Highlighting the importance of the auction, the minister noted that Pakistan’s internet quality currently lags behind international and regional standards, largely due to limited spectrum availability. She explained that Pakistan’s population of approximately 240 million is operating on just 274MHz of spectrum.
“This is equivalent to managing traffic on two lanes when eight are required, which results in congestion, poor internet performance, and frequent service disruptions,” she said.
Khawaja added that previous spectrum auctions resulted in the allocation of around 60MHz, whereas the upcoming auction will involve 600MHz—making it the largest spectrum auction in Pakistan’s history. The auction will also introduce additional frequency bands that have never before been offered in the country.
As a result, consumers can expect improvements not only in 3G and 4G services but also the launch of 5G connectivity. The PTA, she said, will ensure that network rollouts are completed within four to six months of the auction, allowing users to experience visible service improvements shortly thereafter. The government is targeting the commercial rollout of 5G services within six months of the auction.
The minister emphasized that reliable internet connectivity is central to the government’s digital transformation agenda under the Digital Nation Pakistan Act, 2025. She further referenced the upcoming “Connect 2030” initiative, which aims to ensure minimum internet speeds of 100 Mbps nationwide over the next five years.
In November, the government received the final report from its 5G spectrum auction consultant, following delays caused by the PTCL–Telenor merger and litigation surrounding the 2600MHz band. The report, prepared by US-based consultancy National Economic Research Associates (NERA), proposed offering 606MHz of new spectrum across six key bands: 700MHz, 1800MHz, 2100MHz, 2300MHz, 2600MHz, and 3500MHz.
According to the report, the 2600MHz band is considered particularly well-suited for 5G deployment. The recommendations also cover auction design, methodology, base pricing, licence duration, and other key terms and conditions.
