Pakistan has moved to 7th position globally among comparable telecom markets following the conclusion of the IMT spectrum auction on 10 March 2026, significantly improving from its previous 14th position.
With the addition of 480 MHz of newly auctioned spectrum, the country’s total assigned IMT spectrum has increased from about 274 MHz to nearly 754 MHz. This expansion places Pakistan ahead of several regional and developing economies. According to an IT Ministry document, the increase brings the country closer to markets such as South Africa and India, while surpassing Indonesia, Egypt, Turkey, Thailand, and Bangladesh in total spectrum availability.
Despite this progress, advanced digital economies continue to maintain a clear lead. Countries such as Japan and Saudi Arabia have assigned more than 1.3 GHz of IMT spectrum, while China, Brazil, and the Philippines also remain ahead of Pakistan. However, the latest auction has narrowed the gap and placed Pakistan within the upper tier of emerging telecom markets, strengthening its ability to deploy high-speed broadband and next-generation mobile services, including nationwide 5G, according to the IT Ministry document.
Pakistan successfully concluded the IMT Spectrum Auction on 10 March 2026, marking a major milestone in expanding national telecom capacity and preparing the groundwork for 5G rollout under the Digital Nation Pakistan vision. A total of 480 MHz of spectrum across the 700, 2300, 2600, and 3500 MHz bands was auctioned, with more than 80 percent of the offered spectrum successfully allocated.
All available spectrum in the 2300 and 2600 MHz bands was sold, while strong demand in the 3500 MHz band indicated serious industry commitment toward launching 5G services.
Three mobile operators acquired spectrum to strengthen next-generation networks. Jazz secured 190 MHz across multiple bands to maintain nationwide coverage and capacity. Ufone obtained 180 MHz, including a strong position in the 3500 MHz band to support high-capacity 5G and fixed wireless access. Zong acquired 110 MHz, focusing on mid-band spectrum to enhance broadband performance.
The auction generated approximately USD 507 million in revenue for the government and significantly increased the overall broadband capacity available in the country.
The auction process was conducted through a transparent and internationally recognized mechanism supervised by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority, with international consultancy support from NERA Economic Consulting.
The additional spectrum is expected to improve network quality, enable faster internet speeds, and support growth in digital services, artificial intelligence, fintech, and e-commerce. With its new global ranking at 7th position among comparable markets, Pakistan’s telecom sector is now better positioned to launch 5G services and support long-term digital economic growth, though further spectrum releases will be required to match the levels seen in leading digital economies.
