The government has decided to seek the direct intervention of the Chief Justice of Pakistan in order to expedite the launch of the 5G spectrum auction. Legal disputes that have lingered for nearly two decades continue to block progress, tying up vital spectrum resources and preventing a transparent and competitive bidding process. With the aim of ensuring a dispute-free auction, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has instructed the Attorney General to meet the Chief Justice and brief him on how the unresolved cases are stalling the rollout of next-generation telecom services. Officials said these disputes are not only slowing down the adoption of new technology but also causing significant financial losses to the national exchequer and the telecom industry.
According to official data, around 161.6 MHz of spectrum remains under litigation, making it impossible to proceed with the full auction. The most critical portion of this is the 2600 MHz band, which alone accounts for 140 MHz of the disputed spectrum. This band is recognized globally as one of the prime frequencies for both 4G and 5G services, making its availability essential for telecom operators planning to expand high-speed broadband across the country. The prolonged legal battles have created uncertainty in the market and delayed investment, prompting the government to take this unusual step of involving the Chief Justice to ensure the process is not further delayed.
In a written response to Parliament, the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication, FAB, and PTA confirmed that a total of 606 MHz of spectrum has already been freed for the upcoming 5G auction. This includes multiple bands such as the 700 MHz, 2300 MHz, and 3500 MHz, which were made available after successful coordination with defense authorities and through the re-farming of obsolete services. These efforts reflect the government’s commitment to clearing as much spectrum as possible for commercial use, but the litigation surrounding the remaining 161.6 MHz continues to hold back the complete rollout.
FAB has emphasized that once the legal bottlenecks are addressed, Pakistan will be in a strong position to launch a transparent 5G spectrum auction in line with global standards. Telecom experts note that the availability of spectrum across diverse bands will allow operators to design competitive packages that support both coverage and capacity, ensuring consumers benefit from improved connectivity. By approaching the Chief Justice, the government aims to fast-track the resolution of cases that have long hindered the sector, thereby enabling telecom companies to move forward with investment and deployment plans that are critical to Pakistan’s digital growth.
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