Information and Technology Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja has said that the auction of 600 MHz spectrum is expected to be completed by early next year, a move she said would significantly improve internet services across Pakistan. She made the remarks while addressing a press conference in Islamabad alongside Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, where both ministers shared updates on decisions taken by the Economic Coordination Committee related to the telecom sector and spectrum availability.
At the start of the press conference, Aurangzeb stated that the Economic Coordination Committee had approved the recommendations presented by the Spectrum Advisory Committee. Khawaja explained that these recommendations would now be placed before the federal cabinet for final approval. Following cabinet endorsement, PTA will issue an information memorandum, which will form the basis for consultations and negotiations with stakeholders and telecom operators. She said the government was working to ensure that the auction process is completed by the end of January or early February, emphasizing that the timeline reflects the urgency of addressing long standing connectivity challenges faced by consumers and businesses.
Highlighting the importance of the auction, the IT minister said that Pakistan’s internet quality currently does not meet international standards or even regional benchmarks. She attributed this primarily to the limited availability of spectrum in the country. According to her, Pakistan’s population of around 240 million people is currently operating on just 274 MHz of spectrum, creating severe congestion on mobile networks. She compared the situation to traffic being forced through two lanes when at least eight are required, resulting in slow speeds, dropped connections, and unreliable internet access. She noted that previous spectrum auctions added around 60 MHz, while the upcoming auction will release approximately 600 MHz, making it the largest spectrum auction in Pakistan’s history.
Khawaja further explained that the auction will include additional frequency bands being offered in Pakistan for the first time. This expansion is expected to enhance not only 3G and 4G service quality but also enable the rollout of 5G services. She said PTA will ensure that network rollouts are completed within four to six months after the auction, allowing consumers to experience visible improvements in service quality within a relatively short timeframe. The government is also aiming to ensure that 5G services begin rolling out after six months of the auction, aligning with broader digitisation goals outlined under the Digital Nation Pakistan Act, 2025. She stressed that reliable and high speed internet connectivity is central to the government’s digital transformation agenda.
Referring to future connectivity targets, the minister said that under Connect 2030, a framework expected to be inaugurated by the prime minister soon, the government aims to ensure that minimum connectivity available to users reaches 100 Mbps over the next five years. She also provided context on delays in the spectrum process, noting that the 5G auction had previously remained stalled due to the merger of PTCL and Telenor, as well as litigation related to the 2600 MHz band. In November, the government received a report from US based consultancy firm National Economic Research Associates, which outlined policy recommendations for the auction, including design, methodology, base pricing, duration, and terms. The report noted that Pakistan would be offering 606 MHz of new spectrum across six major bands, including 700 MHz, 1800 MHz, 2100 MHz, 2300 MHz, 2600 MHz, and 3500 MHz, with the 2600 MHz band identified as the most suitable for 5G deployment.
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