Pakistan is set to take a major leap in digital connectivity after the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) approved key recommendations for the country’s largest-ever spectrum auction. The decision, announced on Tuesday, paves the way for Pakistan’s first commercial rollout of 5G services.
Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, who chairs the ECC and the Spectrum Advisory Committee, said the auction is a crucial step in advancing the government’s Digital Pakistan vision. “We have been on the journey of Digital Pakistan, and accelerating that journey,” he said, stressing that the auction would help expand access to faster, more reliable internet.
The approval follows consultations with multiple stakeholders, including the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) and telecom operators, along with a review of international benchmarks on spectrum pricing, payment terms, and auction design.
Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima called the ECC decision a major policy milestone. She added that the recommendations will now go before the federal cabinet for final approval.
Once that happens, the PTA will issue an Information Memorandum to formally kick off discussions and negotiations with telecom operators. “The government aims to complete the auction by the end of January or in the first week of February,” Fatima said.
The auction will offer nearly 600 megahertz of spectrum, on top of the 274 MHz already in use, making it the largest spectrum sale in Pakistan’s history. Most of the frequency bands will be available for the first time, except for the 1800 MHz and 2300 MHz bands.
Aurangzeb said the auction was designed with a “Pakistan-first” approach, balancing government revenue needs with the telecom sector’s ability to invest in network expansion. Fatima highlighted the urgent need for more spectrum, pointing out that around 240 million people currently share just 274 MHz, far below regional peers.
3G, 4G internet to also improve
The additional spectrum is expected to ease network congestion, improve 3G and 4G performance, and finally introduce 5G in the country. Winning operators will be required to roll out networks within four to six months.
The initiative also aligns with the government’s broader digital transformation agenda under the Digital Nation Pakistan Act and the “Connect 2030” plan, which aims to boost average internet speeds to 100 Mbps and improve Pakistan’s global connectivity ranking within three years.
To encourage investment in fibre infrastructure, the government has already abolished Right of Way charges, addressing the fact that less than five per cent of the country is currently fibreised.
With the spectrum auction on the horizon, Pakistan could soon enter a new era of high-speed connectivity, bringing faster internet and better services to millions of users across the country.
