Pakistan’s much-anticipated 5G spectrum auction has been delayed after the Spectrum Advisory Committee (SAC) failed to meet its December deadline. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has now instructed that the auction be held in the first quarter of next year, giving authorities a new target to complete the process.
According to official sources, the delay became evident during a closed-door SAC meeting on Friday, where the US-based consultancy firm National Economic Research Associates Inc. (NERA) presented its final report on the auction framework. The meeting was chaired by the Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue and attended only by core committee members, as all supporting staff were asked to leave the room.
Senior government officials present included the Federal Minister for IT and Telecom, Minister for Science and Technology, Minister for Industries and Production, secretaries from key divisions, the PTA chairman, the Frequency Allocation Board’s executive director, and representatives from GHQ and ISI.
During the briefing, the Frequency Allocation Board (FAB) disclosed that it has identified 606 MHz of new spectrum across six major bands: 700, 1800, 2100, 2300, 2600, and 3500 MHz. This marks an increase of more than 200% compared to Pakistan’s existing spectrum resources, which the government says will significantly strengthen the country’s 5G rollout and overall digital transformation.
NERA’s report also outlined key policy recommendations for the auction, including the auction design, methodology, base price, duration, and other related terms and conditions.
Sources confirmed that the SAC will now hold internal discussions before forwarding the finalized plan to the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) and later the federal cabinet for approval. Only after these steps will the new 5G auction date be formally announced.