Pakistan’s telco authority, Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), has raised $510 million in its 5G spectrum auction. The country’s major telcos participated in the auction, securing vital airwaves for the next-generation cellular technology.
The authority will decide on the assignment stage on 12th March, 2026. On the occasion, the country’s IT Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja congratulated stakeholders and the nation and said that the event would transform the country’s digital landscape.
She added that the process was carried out live to ensure transparency, complying with the directives of the Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
First phase of 5G spectrum auction
PTA conducted the 5G spectrum auction in three rounds. The authority was able to generate over $500 million after the sale of 480 MHz of frequencies out of the targeted 597 MHz. The purchase paves the way for the telcos Jazz, Zong, and Ufone to roll out 5G network across the country.
Two lots in the 700 MHz band and five lots in the 2300 MHz band, all 19 lots in the 260 MHz band, and 22 out of 28 lots in the 3500 MHz band were sold in the historic auction.
In the auction, Ufone secured 180 MHz of spectrum with 120 MHz in the 3500 MHz band and 60 MHz in the 2600 MHz band. At the same time, Zong acquired 110 MHz of resources in the auction.
5G launch timeline in Pakistan
Pakistan is planning to launch 5G services by the end of 2026. In the first phase, the network will be live in five major cities across the country. With 5G, users will likely witness a major performance boost from the data speed rate to smooth use cases such as HD voice calling, streaming, etc.
According to the latest data, Jazz is Pakistan’s leading telco with over 74.2 million subscribers and boasts over 36% of market share. It’s followed by Ufone and Zong with 72.4 million and 53.8 million users, respectively. They are all lined up to launch 5G in the country.
| Pakistani telcos | Subscribers (million) | Market Share |
| Jazz | 74.2 million | 36.60% |
| Ufone | 72.4 million | 35.70% |
| Zong | 53.8 million | 26.60% |
The country expects both public and private sectors to work together on 5G projects. The government says that the next-gen technology will bolster the country’s economic growth and lead the way for the promotion of the IT and telecom sectors in the future.
