ISLAMABAD: The government would auction an additional 600 megahertz (MHz) of spectrum next month, Federal Minister for IT and Telecom Shaza Fatima Khawaja said on Friday, stressing that the move would pave the way for improved internet speeds and the rollout of 5G services.
Addressing a news conference, Ms Khawaja said the federal cabinet had approved the framework for the auction, covering seven spectrum bands, five of which would be offered in Pakistan for the first time.
“The information memorandum highlighting the details of the auction will be released in the coming days,” she said. “The 5G services are expected to be launched within six months in provincial capitals and Islamabad.”
She said the additional spectrum would also significantly improve 3G and 4G services within three to four months of the auction.
The radio spectrum is a finite national resource that consists of electromagnetic frequencies used to carry wireless signals for mobile calls, mobile internet, television, satellite communications and emergency services.
New spectrum sale to boost 3G and 4G, enable 5G rollout
In mobile networks, wider and more efficient spectrum availability allows telecom operators to carry more data at faster speeds and with lower congestion, particularly as smartphone use and video streaming rise.
Because spectrum is limited and cannot be created artificially, governments regulate its use and allocate it through auctions to ensure transparency, competition and optimal utilisation.
Stressing that internet connectivity was a “growth engine” for several sectors of the economy, the minister said the country faced speed and quality issues due to an acute shortage of available spectrum. She said Pakistan had about 274MHz of spectrum, among the lowest levels in the region, and noted that Bangladesh had nearly 600MHz despite a smaller population.
“Our goal is not just faster internet, but future-ready connectivity,” Ms Khawaja said, adding that the government was working with the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) and international consultants to ensure the process complies with global best practices.
She said connectivity was no longer a luxury but a critical infrastructure for economic growth, national security, education, healthcare, agriculture and exports, noting that Pakistan was the world’s fourth-largest freelancing economy and that the IT industry was growing at an annual rate of around 20 to 21 per cent.
The minister said Pakistan had also joined the world’s longest submarine cable system, SMW-6, and that two more undersea internet cables were expected to become operational this year.
“These developments will reduce reliance on limited international routes and help minimise disruptions caused by global cable cuts,” she added.
Ms Khawaja also pointed to the cabinet’s approval of a Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) policy, under which MVNOs would purchase network capacity in bulk from existing operators and offer services under their own brands. She said the policy would encourage greater competition, improve affordability and attract investment in the telecom sector.
In addition, she said the PTA had approved district-level internet service provider (ISP) licences, enabling local cable operators and small companies to legally provide services in villages, small towns and underserved areas. The move, she added, would help expand fibre connectivity beyond major commercial centres.
Responding to a question about service suspensions, the minister said shutdowns of mobile or internet services were imposed strictly on security directives issued by the interior ministry and were not a policy decision of the IT ministry. “Human lives are more important than connectivity,” she said, adding that such measures were taken only in extreme situations.
Published in Dawn, January 3rd, 2026