A new report by Opensignal says that Pakistan’s latest spectrum auction could significantly expand the country’s digital capacity and improve mobile network performance.
The global mobile network analytics firm reviewed the 5G spectrum auction conducted by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) on March 10, describing it as an important step toward faster and more reliable mobile services.
According to the report, the auction has increased the total mobile spectrum available to operators to more than double previous levels. This additional spectrum will allow telecom companies to deploy faster and more reliable networks. Opensignal noted that Pakistan has been lagging behind many countries in South Asia in terms of download speeds and overall network quality, making the expansion of spectrum essential for future growth.
The report highlighted that three major operators participated in the auction and secured large blocks of frequency. This is expected to support the rollout of next-generation mobile services, including 5G. In total, around 480 MHz of spectrum was sold, generating more than $500 million and marking the largest spectrum sale in the country’s history.
Opensignal explained that increased spectrum works like widening a digital highway, allowing more users to connect at the same time with better speeds and fewer interruptions. However, the company cautioned that spectrum alone will not improve user experience unless operators also invest in network infrastructure, such as towers, fiber connectivity, and modern equipment.
The report concluded that while the auction is an important step toward 5G and improved connectivity, Pakistan will need continued investment and strong competition among operators to close the gap with regional markets and deliver better mobile performance to consumers.