PTA Nears Completion of 5G Auction IM After Stakeholder Feedback

The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has started work on the final Information Memorandum (IM) for Pakistan’s upcoming 5G spectrum auction, following the conclusion of the stakeholder consultation process last week, officials told ProPakistani.

The authority formally closed the consultation on the draft IM on February 6 after receiving queries and feedback from industry stakeholders.

PTA officials confirmed that the regulator is now reviewing the submissions and incorporating relevant input, including additions, modifications, or deletions, to finalize the auction framework.

According to PTA sources, the final Information Memorandum is expected to be issued by the end of this week, most likely on Friday. The document will serve as the definitive guide for prospective bidders, outlining auction rules, spectrum details, eligibility criteria, and financial obligations.

Earlier, PTA revised the 5G auction timeline, rescheduling the auction for March 10, 2026, and shared the updated roadmap on January 29. The draft IM was published on January 9, marking the start of the consultation period, which remained open for nearly four weeks to allow stakeholders to submit queries and recommendations.

Under the updated schedule, an information session for prospective applicants is planned for February 16, while the deadline for submission of applications along with the pre-bid deposit is February 27 at 4:00 pm PST. The list of applicants will be announced the same day, followed by the declaration of qualified bidders on March 3.

The auction will offer spectrum across low, mid, and high frequency bands, including 700 MHz, 1800 MHz, 2100 MHz, 2300 MHz, 2600 MHz, and 3500 MHz, with commercial 5G services expected within six to seven months of licence issuance, subject to regulatory and operational readiness.