Pakistan Raises $507m in 5G Spectrum Auction as Telecom Firms Secure Key Bands
By Tanveer Ahmed :
Pakistan has completed its long-awaited 5G spectrum auction in Islamabad, raising $507 million after selling 480 megahertz of spectrum following three rounds of competitive bidding.
Three major telecom operators Jazz, Ufone and Zong participated in the auction, with intense competition for the 2600 MHz frequency band, considered critical for deploying 5G services.
At the end of the bidding process, Zong secured 110 MHz of spectrum, Ufone acquired 180 MHz and Jazz obtained 190 MHz.
Jazz acquires largest share
Among the three operators, Jazz emerged as the largest buyer, purchasing spectrum across several frequency bands.
The company secured 20 MHz in the 700 MHz band, 50 MHz in the 2300 MHz band, 70 MHz in the 2600 MHz band and 50 MHz in the 3500 MHz band.
Ufone acquired 60 MHz in the 2600 MHz band and 120 MHz in the 3500 MHz band, while Zong obtained 60 MHz in the 2600 MHz band and 50 MHz in the 3500 MHz band.
Following the auction results, Amir Ibrahim said the company’s acquisition of the 700 MHz spectrum would help expand network coverage in rural and sparsely populated areas.
He also announced that 5G trial services for Jazz customers would begin at 180 towers from Wednesday.
Government leaders attend auction
The bidding process was launched in the presence of Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, former IT minister Syed Aminul Haque, and members of the National Assembly’s IT and telecom committee.
Speaking at the event, Aurangzeb said the expansion of digital infrastructure would play a key role in supporting economic growth.
“Digital is not an end in itself; it’s a means to an end faster, cheaper, better,” he said, adding that improved connectivity would support sectors such as online education, remote work and private-sector development.
5G rollout expected within months
Information Technology Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja described the auction as one of the most significant milestones in Pakistan’s technological development.
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 been held since then, contributing to connectivity challenges.
The minister said the new auction would not only introduce 5G services but also significantly improve the quality of existing 4G networks.
According to Khawaja, citizens could begin noticing better 4G performance within four to five months, while 5G services are expected to be launched initially in major cities within five to six months.
Expanding Pakistan’s digital infrastructure
The government is also working on broader digital initiatives alongside the spectrum auction, including satellite-based internet coverage for remote areas, new international submarine cable connections and the expansion of fibre networks across the country.
Khawaja said Pakistan currently had only 274 MHz of spectrum available for telecom services far less than countries such as Bangladesh, which has around 600 MHz despite having a smaller population.
She added that the successful auction would significantly increase spectrum availability and help accelerate the country’s digital transformation under Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s “Digital Nation Pakistan” vision.
Industry experts say spectrum often described as an invisible but essential infrastructure is a key driver of modern digital connectivity and economic growth.
About Author
