The Government of Pakistan has officially issued a policy directive to initiate the long-awaited 5G spectrum auction, marking a major step toward the commercial rollout of next-generation mobile services in the country. The directive was issued by the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication (MoITT) and forwarded to the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) for implementation.
This move aims to accelerate Pakistan’s digital transformation and strengthen the telecom sector by ensuring efficient allocation of radio frequency spectrum, a limited national resource.
Key Frequency Bands Approved for Auction
Under the policy directive, the government has approved the auction of multiple spectrum bands to support advanced mobile broadband and 5G services. These include:
700 MHz
1800 MHz
2100 MHz
2300 MHz
2600 MHz
3500 MHz
These bands are crucial for delivering high-speed internet, low-latency connectivity, and enhanced network capacity across both urban and rural areas.
Base Prices Finalized for Multi-Band Spectrum
In addition to issuing the policy directive, the government has also set base prices for each spectrum band to provide clarity and certainty to telecom operators ahead of the auction.
The approved base prices include:
700 MHz paired spectrum: US$6.5 million per MHz
1800 MHz & 2100 MHz paired bands: US$14 million per MHz
2300 MHz unpaired band: US$1 million per MHz
2600 MHz unpaired band: US$1.25 million per MHz
3500 MHz band: US$0.65 million per MHz
All payments will be made in Pakistani rupees based on the prevailing exchange rate set by the State Bank of Pakistan.
Flexible Payment Structure for Operators
The policy lets telecom operators pay fully within one year of license issuance or opt for a deferred payment plan. Under the deferred option, operators pay 50% after year one, with the remaining 50% split into five equal annual installments. This flexible structure is expected to ease financial pressure on operators while ensuring steady government revenue.
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PTA’s Role and Auction Transparency
The government has tasked the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority to conduct the auction in a transparent, competitive, and non-discriminatory manner.
The directive emphasizes compliance with international best practices and Pakistan’s commitments to global telecom standards. The auction process will allow both existing telecom operators and eligible new entrants to participate.
Impact on Pakistan’s Digital Future
The 5G policy directive and base price setting mark a significant milestone, advancing Pakistan’s telecom industry toward modern, faster connectivity. With millions of broadband users and rapidly growing demand for high-speed connectivity, 5G will drive innovation in smart cities, healthcare, education, fintech, and industrial automation.
Industry analysts say the auction will unlock fresh investment, improve service quality, and strengthen Pakistan’s competitiveness in the regional digital economy.
