ISLAMABAD (MNN); Federal Minister for IT and Telecommunications Shaza Fatima Khawaja announced on Friday that Pakistan will auction the 600 megahertz (MHz) spectrum next month to enhance internet speeds and launch 5G services in the country.
She said the Economic Coordination Committee had approved the auction process last week, directing that it be completed within two months. Addressing a media briefing in Islamabad, the minister noted that Pakistan’s telecom sector currently operates on just 274MHz of spectrum, calling the country “severely spectrum-starved.”
Pakistan, with a population of around 240 million, has far less spectrum than regional peers, she said, pointing out that Bangladesh, with nearly two-thirds of Pakistan’s population, has access to about 600MHz.
Spectrum refers to the range of radio frequencies used to transmit wireless signals for mobile phones, the internet, television and radio. Technologies such as 3G, 4G and 5G function through specific frequency bands. While several South Asian countries, including Bangladesh, India, Bhutan, the Maldives and Sri Lanka, have already launched nationwide 5G services, Pakistan has yet to do so.
The minister said the lack of spectrum auctions over many years had left Pakistan with the lowest spectrum availability in the region. She added that the upcoming auction would not only improve existing 3G and 4G services but also enable the first-ever rollout of 5G in Pakistan.
Emphasising the importance of connectivity, she described the internet as “critical infrastructure,” comparable to roads in earlier times. She said improved internet access was essential for social development, economic growth, job creation and national security.
The IT minister reiterated that the government aims to complete the auction by late January or early February. She said new frequency bands would be offered for the first time, improving service quality and supporting 5G deployment.
She also linked the initiative to the government’s broader digitisation agenda under the Digital Nation Pakistan Act, 2025.
In November, a consultant submitted its report on the 5G spectrum auction, which had been delayed due to the PTCL–Telenor merger and legal issues related to the 2600MHz band. The report by US-based firm National Economic Research Associates stated that Pakistan plans to offer 606MHz of new spectrum across six bands: 700MHz, 1800MHz, 2100MHz, 2300MHz, 2600MHz and 3500MHz, with the 2600MHz band considered most suitable for 5G.
