ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Tuesday raised USD507 million in its long-awaited 5G spectrum auction, selling 480 MHz of spectrum to telecom operators Jazz, Zong and Ufone against a projected revenue of USD634.5 million from 597.2 MHz on offer, marking a key step toward launching next-generation mobile services and strengthening the country’s digital economy.
The auction, conducted by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), concluded after three rounds and was inaugurated by Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, IT Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, and PTA Chairman Hafeez Ur Rehman. After completion, the PTA chairman announced the results at a ceremony held here on Tuesday.
Out of the 597 MHz spectrum offered, the PTA successfully auctioned 480 MHz across four frequency bands, including 700 MHz, 2300 MHz, 2600 MHz, and 3500 MHz. However, the spectrum in the 1800 band and 2100 band remained unsold.
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In total, two lots were sold in the 700 MHz band, all five lots in the 2300 MHz band, all 19 lots in the 2600 MHz band, and 22 of the 28 lots in the 3500 MHz band.
Among the telecom operators, Jazz emerged as the largest buyer, acquiring 190 MHz of spectrum, including 50 MHz in the 3500 MHz band, 70 MHz in the 2600 MHz band, 50 MHz in the 2300 MHz band, and 20 MHz in the 700 MHz band.
Ufone secured 180 MHz, comprising 120 MHz in the 3500 MHz band and 60 MHz in the 2600 MHz band, while Zong obtained 110 MHz, including 50 MHz in the 3500 MHz band and 60 MHz in the 2600 MHz band.
PTA Chairman Hafeez Ur Rehman described the auction as a “historic milestone,” saying improved digital connectivity would act as the “digital highway” for Pakistan’s economy.
He also announced that Pakistan has become the first country in Asia to abolish Right-of-Way (RoW) charges for telecom infrastructure, reducing fees from Rs36,000 per kilometre to zero to encourage fibre network expansion. The Chairman said the next stage of the auction is going to be held the day after tomorrow and will involve assigning specific lots within each band.
Operators will internally decide which frequencies to take at the top, middle, or lower segments of each band.
Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Muhammad Aurangzeb described the NGMS/5G Spectrum Auction as a historic milestone that will accelerate Pakistan’s digital transformation and strengthen the country’s digital economy.
Addressing participants at the spectrum auction ceremony, the Finance Minister said it was a pleasure to witness the culmination of extensive efforts undertaken over the past year and a half to finalize the framework for the auction. He noted that the Spectrum Committee, which he chaired, carried out detailed deliberations to develop a balanced framework aimed at optimizing revenue while simultaneously fostering an enabling ecosystem to advance Pakistan’s digital journey.
Aurangzeb acknowledged that the process for the spectrum auction had been initiated earlier under the leadership of the Minister for Information Technology during her previous tenure in 2021. He commended the continuity of policy across successive administrations, noting that while governments may change, sustained policy direction ensures progress. He termed the auction an important moment for all stakeholders who had contributed to bringing the initiative to completion. The Finance Minister emphasized that digital development is not an end in itself but a means to achieve broader economic and social progress. He said improved digital connectivity would deliver faster, cheaper, and better services, unlocking numerous opportunities across various sectors of the economy. He added that greater spectrum availability and the rollout of 5G services would also facilitate emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, blockchain, and Web 3.0, helping Pakistan transition towards a modern digital economy.
The Finance Minister further noted that improved connectivity and digital infrastructure are particularly critical during times of crisis. Referring to the Prime Minister’s announcement a day earlier, he said enhanced digital capacity would enable seamless transitions to online education, remote working, and other digital services when required.
Director General Licensing at PTA, Aamir Shahzad, briefed participants that the government had formed an advisory committee for the 5G auction and hired an international consultant. Following the consultant’s report, the government issued policy directives, and PTA released the Information Memorandum for the auction.
The rollout of 5G is expected to significantly enhance data speeds, support emerging technologies, and enable digital services across sectors, including industry, healthcare, education, and e-commerce.
IT Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja said the government made around 600 MHz of spectrum available and conducted the auction live to ensure transparency on the directions of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. She noted that Pakistan had reached a “choking point” in spectrum availability and the additional bandwidth would significantly improve internet services nationwide.
The minister recalled that Pakistan first entered the 3G and 4G era between 2014 and 2016 under the leadership of former Prime Minister Mohammad Nawaz Sharif.
Those earlier auctions laid the foundation for today’s digital progress. With the 600 MHz spectrum now available, Pakistan moves from being spectrum-starved to meeting regional benchmarks,” she added.
Shaza Fatima Khawaja highlighted that the new spectrum would significantly enhance internet speeds and connectivity for millions of Pakistanis, promising improved mobile experiences in the coming months.
She also announced plans to launch 5G in major cities and provincial capitals by the end of the year, marking Pakistan’s entry into the list of countries offering next-generation mobile services.
Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar said that the Prime Minister had directed that the bidding process for any auction in Pakistan should be broadcast live to ensure transparency. The minister said that the entire world witnessed the transparent bidding process for Pakistan’s 5G spectrum.
He stated that the auction was conducted online through specialized software, ensuring a smooth and transparent process. The minister thanked all participating telecom companies for taking part in the bidding process. Attaullah Tarar said that when private sector institutions show trust in the public sector and acknowledge the transparency of the process, it is a major success for the government.
He emphasized that the economy moves forward when the public and private sectors work together in cooperation. “The bidding process held today reflects confidence in the government,” the minister added. He further said that the auction of the 5G spectrum would bring a revolution in digital connectivity across Pakistan.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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