Pakistan steps into 5G era with $507m spectrum sale
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• Jazz acquires largest share with 190MHz; announces 5G test trials at 180 towers
• Ufone secures 180MHz; Zong wins 110MHz
• 5G rollout planned in five major cities within five to six months
KARACHI: The government completed its 5G spectrum auction on Tuesday, with 480 megahertz (MHz) sold for $507 million at the end of the third round of bidding.
The three bidders — Zong, Jazz and Ufone — competed heavily for the 2,600MHz band, a key frequency range for 5G services. Zong acquired 110MHz, Ufone 180MHz and Jazz 190MHz during the auction.
Pakistan offered spectrum across several bands, including 700MHz for $32.5m, 1,800MHz for $16.8m, 2,100MHz for $70m, 2,300MHz for $10m, 2,600MHz for $12.5m and 3,500MHz for $6.5m per lot.
The bidding process was launched in the presence of Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, former IT minister Syed Aminul Haque, and the chairperson and some members of the National Assembly Standing Committee on IT and Telecom.
All three telecom operators were required to acquire at least 100MHz. Among them, Jazz purchased the largest share of spectrum, not only in 5G-compatible bands but also in frequencies used for long-distance services.
Jazz acquired 20MHz in the 700MHz band, 50MHz in the 2,300MHz band, 70MHz in the 2,600MHz band and 50MHz in the 3,500MHz band.
Ufone purchased 60MHz in the 2,600MHz band and 120MHz in the 3,500MHz band, while Zong obtained 60MHz in the 2,600MHz band and 50MHz in the 3,500MHz band.
What is 5G and spectrum?
Fifth-generation mobile technology, or 5G, is the latest standard for wireless networks. It offers much faster internet speeds, lower delay (latency) and the ability to connect many more devices at once compared to 4G.
This allows smoother video streaming, quicker downloads and supports technologies such as smart cities, autonomous vehicles and advanced industrial systems.
Spectrum refers to the radio frequencies used by telecom companies to transmit wireless signals between mobile towers and devices such as smartphones. Governments allocate and auction different frequency bands to telecom operators, who then use them to provide mobile and internet services.
Mobile operators use licensed spectrum bands to send signals from base stations (mobile towers) to users’ devices. Different frequency bands have different advantages. For instance, lower bands (such as 700MHz) travel farther and are better for rural coverage. Mid and higher bands (such as 2,600MHz or 3,500MHz) carry more data and are used for high-speed services like 5G in urban areas.
‘Faster, cheaper, better’
Following the announcement of results, Jazz CEO Amir Ibrahim said the company had acquired the 700MHz spectrum to expand services in rural and sparsely populated areas.
“I also want to announce that test trials of 5G will be available at 180 towers for Jazz customers from Wednesday,” he said.
During the auction process, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) had initially offered 190MHz in lots of 10MHz, but telecom companies placed bids for 30 lots. As a result, 11 additional lots totalling 110MHz were added for bidding, and the PTA increased the 2,600MHz band price by five per cent of the base price.
For the 3,500MHz band, 28 lots of 10MHz were offered, but telecom companies placed bids for 20 lots.
Addressing the event, Mr Aurangzeb thanked members of the spectrum committee and credited the IT ministry for ensuring continuity of policy that enabled the auction.
“Digital is not an end in itself; it’s a means to an end — faster, cheaper and better,” he said.
He added that improved spectrum availability would support Pakistan’s transition into the digital economy, including technologies such as artificial intelligence, blockchain and Web 3.0.
Mr Aurangzeb also linked digital connectivity with economic resilience, noting that improved connectivity would help facilitate online education and remote work, particularly during crises such as the current global oil situation.
IT Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja described the auction as “one of the most important days in Pakistan’s history”.
She noted that Pakistan had entered the 3G and 4G era during the government of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, but no major spectrum auctions had taken place since then, contributing to connectivity challenges.
Ms Khawaja said the new auction would significantly improve 4G quality while introducing 5G services in the country.
“The internet today forms the foundation of everything — from personal life to economy, agriculture, industry and national security,” she said.
Comparing Pakistan with Bangladesh, she noted that Pakistan had been operating on 274MHz of spectrum since 1997, while Bangladesh had 600MHz despite having a smaller population.
“Even if we only complete the base auction successfully, our spectrum availability will double,” she said.
Responding to questions about the impact on consumers, the IT minister said users could expect noticeable improvements in 4G quality within four to five months, while efforts were under way to introduce 5G services in the country’s five major cities within five to six months.
She also praised former IT minister Aminul Haque for laying the groundwork for the auction and acknowledged Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s push for the government’s Digital Nation Pakistan vision.
Apart from the spectrum auction, the government was also working on expanding satellite-based internet services, linking Pakistan with international cable systems to become an internet transit hub, and expanding fibre networks across the country.
Ms Khawaja said the government had also abolished right-of-way charges for fibre deployment, becoming the first country in Asia to do so, which would help reduce internet costs and improve connectivity in the long term.
Telecom companies say spectrum is an invisible but essential infrastructure that drives digital connectivity, considered the backbone of modern economies.
Published in Dawn, March 11th, 2026
