PTA Gives New Date for 5G Spectrum Auction

The Auction Advisory Committee has decided to hold Pakistan’s 5G spectrum auction on March 10, 2026, revising the earlier government plan that had set February 26, 2026, as the auction date.

The decision was taken during a committee meeting convened to review the auction framework, timelines, and stakeholder consultations for Next Generation Mobile Services (NGMS).

The meeting was chaired by Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb and attended by Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja, along with senior officials from relevant ministries and regulatory bodies.

The committee reviewed preparations for the auction, including spectrum availability, auction design, and procedural milestones, and agreed on adjustments to ensure completion of the process within the revised schedule.

Under the updated roadmap, the Information Memorandum (IM) was published on January 9, 2026, marking the start of the consultation period, which has now been extended until February 6, 2026.

The Final Information Memorandum will be published on February 13, 2026. An information session for prospective applicants is scheduled for February 16, followed by the application deadline, including submission of the pre-bid deposit, on February 27 by 4:00 pm PST. The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) will announce the list of applicants the same day and publish the list of qualified bidders on March 3.

According to officials, the auction will cover multiple spectrum bands across low, mid, and high frequencies to support nationwide 5G deployment.

The available spectrum is expected to include 700 MHz, 1800 MHz, and 2100 MHz paired bands for wider coverage and capacity enhancement, along with unpaired bands in 2300 MHz, 2600 MHz, and the globally preferred 3500 MHz band for high-speed and low-latency 5G services. In total, around 597.2 MHz of spectrum is planned to be offered as part of the auction.

Officials said the auction is a critical step toward Pakistan’s 5G rollout, enabling faster data speeds, lower latency, and support for emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, smart cities, industrial automation, and digital services.

Following the allocation stage, starting on March 10, the assignment stage will be conducted, after which provisional results will be announced.

Winning bidders will be required to submit performance bank guarantees within 15 business days, and commercial 5G services are expected to roll out within six to seven months after license issuance, subject to network readiness and regulatory compliance.