The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has shared important details about the spectrum bands, lot structure, and limits for the Next Generation Mobile Services (NGMS), also known as the 5G auction, planned for 2026.
According to the Information Memorandum, a total of 597.2 MHz of spectrum below 6 GHz will be offered to mobile operators. This spectrum will be sold through a structured, multi-band auction process.
The auction will cover six different frequency bands: 700 MHz, 1800 MHz, 2100 MHz, 2300 MHz, 2600 MHz, and 3500 MHz. Both Frequency Division Duplex (FDD) and Time Division Duplex (TDD) bands will be included. Some of these bands, such as 700 MHz, 2300 MHz, 2600 MHz, and 3500 MHz, will be made available to cellular operators in Pakistan for the first time.
PTA has divided the available spectrum into 62 lots of different sizes. The 700 MHz band will have three lots of 2×5 MHz each. The 1800 MHz band will include three lots of 2×1.2 MHz, while the 2100 MHz band will have four lots of 2×5 MHz.
For the TDD bands, the 2300 MHz band will include five lots of 10 MHz each. The 2600 MHz band will comprise nineteen 10 MHz lots, and the 3500 MHz band will include twenty-eight 10 MHz lots.
To maintain fair competition, PTA has set limits on how much spectrum any single bidder can acquire. The maximum overall cap is 348.5 MHz, which equals 40 percent of the total spectrum available after the auction. A separate limit of 55 MHz has been placed on low-band spectrum. There are also band-specific caps, including 140 MHz for the 2600 MHz band and 200 MHz for the 3500 MHz band.
According to the Information Memorandum, these limits are meant to prevent any one operator from controlling too much spectrum and to ensure that frequencies are used efficiently. PTA has also set bidding limits for existing operators based on the spectrum they already own. New companies entering the market will not be allowed to bid in certain bands.
The authority says this auction structure is designed to support healthy competition while allowing operators to secure enough spectrum to expand 4G and roll out 5G services across the country.
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PTA ko koi samjhay k aisy companies mil k apni apni marzee ka thoorra thoorra spectrum ly lein gy aor end users wesy he rulty rahein gy
Aisy hona chahiy
15*2 in 700 mhz
2.4*2 in 1800 mhz
20*2 in 2100 mhz
PTA hired a reputed consultant from US which studied the Local market and gave its recommensations on how spectrum should be auctioned.
That company covers financial aspect only.
Spectrum Valuation was only 1 aspect out of few more that NERA (National Economic Research Associates Inc.) was hired to cover in their Consultancy. Auction design recommendations was very much part of the agreement with PTA.
You can go and see NERA provides consultancy on all KEY aspects of Spectrum Auction, Not just Valuation.
This is a well-structured and practical way to sell spectrum.
In the low-band category, all operators already hold some spectrum in the 1800 MHz and 2100 MHz bands. Jazz and Ufone only require an additional 0.2 MHz and 1.2 MHz respectively in the 1800 MHz band to complete 25 MHz of contiguous bandwidth. The available spectrum in this band is 3.6×2 MHz, offered in three blocks of 1.2×2 MHz.
In the 2100 MHz band, all operators currently hold 10 MHz each. An additional 20 MHz is available, divided into four blocks. This spectrum is mainly being offered to enhance 4G capacity, allowing operators to increase their holdings to 15 or even 20 MHz if required.
The 700 MHz band is primarily intended for 5G coverage, where even 5 MHz can be sufficient. However, since Ufone already holds two low-band blocks of 10 MHz each in the 900 MHz and 850 MHz bands, it may not show much interest in this spectrum.
For the 2600 MHz and 3500 MHz bands, the minimum spectrum bid has been set at 50 MHz. Both bands are priced relatively cheaply, making them highly attractive. As a result, all operators are likely to acquire at least 50 MHz in each band, giving them a minimum of 100 MHz spectrum for 5G services. Given the lower prices and wider availability, some operators may further increase their holdings in the 3500 MHz band to 80 or even 100 MHz.
5G netwrek
5g kase hoge bahi
When it will be start 5G in Pakistan.انشاءاللہ…..?