ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will hold its 5G spectrum auction tomorrow, Tuesday, as the government moves to launch next-generation mobile services in five major cities, officials said Monday. The initiative aims to improve Internet speeds and digital connectivity across the country.
The move comes amid growing pressure on Pakistan’s telecommunication networks and Internet service providers. Users and businesses frequently report slow speeds and disruptions as a limited spectrum struggles to meet demand in a country of over 240 million people.
Pakistan currently has more than 130 million broadband connections, though access remains uneven. IT exports, however, reached a record $3.8 billion in Fiscal Year 2024–25, up from $3.2 billion the previous year, marking an 18 percent year-on-year increase, according to the Pakistan Software Export Board.
The auction will begin at 10 a.m. Tuesday at the Pakistan Television headquarters through an electronic system, said Aamir Shahzad, Director-General for Licensing at the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA).
“In the first phase, six spectrum bands will be auctioned among mobile operators Ufone, Zong, and Jazz,” Shahzad said. “Bidding for five additional bands will continue until 4 p.m.”
PTA Chairman Hafeez-ur-Rehman said a mock trial of the auction had already been conducted, and all three operators were briefed on the process. Each spectrum band will be auctioned separately rather than via open bidding, he added.
Officials said the launch of 5G services will improve digital connectivity without increasing costs for consumers. “The introduction of 5G will not raise data prices,” the PTA chairman said.
IT Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja said the government is encouraging wider adoption of 5G-compatible devices. “Our goal is for as many people as possible to use 5G mobile phones,” she said. Currently, about 95 percent of mobile phones in Pakistan are locally manufactured.
5G services will first roll out in Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar, and Quetta, with nationwide expansion planned as infrastructure develops.
Khawaja said Pakistan currently uses a 274-megahertz spectrum in operation since 1987. The upcoming auction will make 600-megahertz spectrum available for mobile networks. The auction will be conducted through specialized software and streamed live to ensure transparency.
Shahzad noted that Pakistan currently has one of the lowest spectrum allocations in the region. The government has prepared a nine-year plan for full 5G rollout. Telecom operators are expected to add about 3,000 new network sites per year, with initial speeds projected at 50 Mbps.
PTA officials said Pakistan currently offers some of the world’s cheapest mobile data services. Consumer protection will remain a priority.
Around 500,000 5G-enabled phones have been produced in Pakistan recently, and five local manufacturers have already started producing more devices to meet demand.
