The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority said the auction schedule is final and no delay is expected. Officials estimate the government could earn between $300 million and $700 million depending on how much spectrum is sold and competition among telecom companies.
PTA is offering 597 MHz spectrum in multiple frequency bands. Three existing telecom operators must acquire at least 100 MHz each to launch 5G services. “With the prescribed rate, even if 300 MHz is obtained by the telecommunication operators without any competitive bidding, the government will get $300 million,” PTA Director General Licensing retired brigadier Aamir Shahzad said.
He added, “And if all the 597 MHz is sold at auction at a slightly competitive rate, $700 million will be available for the government, but this scenario is less likely to happen.”
The auction will use a modern electronic system, with key bands like 2600 MHz and 3500 MHz offered first. After the auction, telecom companies are expected to launch 5G services within three to six months, once infrastructure upgrades are completed.
PTA Chairman Hafeezur Rehman said the auction will greatly improve internet speed, coverage, and service quality. Download speeds are expected to rise from 50Mbps to 100Mbps by 2030–35, while mobile broadband speeds may increase by around 25 percent.
He said telecom usage has grown rapidly, with about 50 million new users added in five years. “Improved data service and enhanced coverage will also increase average revenue per user (ARPU) for telecommunication operators,” he said. He added, “We started with $0.7 and now the ARPU has reached $1.3. Therefore, it is likely to increase as more data is consumed by the subscribers.”
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The government has removed the right-of-way fee, which was previously Rs36,000 per kilometre annually, to encourage expansion of fiber networks. Telecom companies have already ordered 5G equipment, and local production of 5G smartphones has begun, with 500,000 to 600,000 units manufactured so far.
Operators will also be required to expand 5G services beyond major cities like Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar, and Quetta, helping bring faster internet to more areas across the country.
The auction is seen as a major step toward modern digital infrastructure and future technologies like 6G.
This auction can significantly improve internet speed in Pakistan. Government revenue will increase through spectrum sales. Telecom companies will expand networks and improve service quality. Pakistan may move closer to global digital technology standards.
