Pakistan to Auction Over 200% Additional Spectrum to Boost Internet Capacity

The federal government has decided to auction more than 200 percent additional telecom spectrum to meet the growing demand for high-speed mobile internet across Pakistan.

The move is expected to significantly improve mobile broadband capacity across the country.

Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja shared this information in a written reply to the National Assembly. She stated that the currently assigned 274 MHz of spectrum is not enough to support Pakistan’s increasing data usage and remains among the lowest allocations in the region.

The minister informed the House that the government has started the process to release around 600 MHz of additional spectrum for Cellular Mobile Operators (CMOs). The spectrum will be offered across multiple frequency bands, including 700, 1800, 2100, 2300, 2600, and 3500 MHz.

She said the auction of the additional spectrum, which is more than 200 percent of the existing allocation, will be conducted soon after completing the required regulatory and policy procedures.

Addressing complaints about slow internet speeds across different areas, the minister explained that although CMOs are required to maintain uniform Quality of Service (QoS) standards, service issues often arise from peak-hour congestion, limited fiberization, backhaul limitations, power outages, and geographical challenges.

She added that the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) continuously monitors service quality through regulatory oversight and complaint-based surveys to ensure that operators comply with their license obligations.

Shaza Fatima Khawaja said the upcoming spectrum auction is expected to directly help resolve these issues by reducing network congestion, improving backhaul efficiency, and supporting the expansion of next-generation mobile broadband services. Increased spectrum availability will also enable operators to provide a better Quality of Experience (QoE), especially in high-demand and underserved areas.

Highlighting broader government efforts, the minister said that under the Digital Nation vision, PTA has taken several steps to improve service quality, expand network coverage, and prepare for future technologies.

These steps include enhanced QoS standards for 3G and 4G services, the launch of VoWiFi and VoLTE, active infrastructure sharing, national roaming along major highways, and plans to expand Fiber to the Site (FTTS) infrastructure.

She noted that these initiatives are aimed at strengthening Pakistan’s digital infrastructure and laying the groundwork for future technologies, including 5G.