Pakistan has moved to the 7th position globally among comparable telecom markets following the successful conclusion of the IMT spectrum auction held on March 10, 2026, marking a notable improvement from its previous 14th ranking. The development reflects a significant increase in the country’s telecom capacity, driven by the addition of 480 MHz of newly allocated spectrum. As a result, Pakistan’s total assigned IMT spectrum has expanded from approximately 274 MHz to nearly 754 MHz, placing it ahead of several regional and developing economies while narrowing the gap with more advanced markets.
According to official data, the expansion brings Pakistan closer to countries such as South Africa and India in terms of spectrum availability, while surpassing Indonesia, Egypt, Turkey, Thailand, and Bangladesh. However, leading digital economies continue to maintain a considerable edge, with nations like Japan and Saudi Arabia having assigned over 1.3 GHz of IMT spectrum. China, Brazil, and the Philippines also remain ahead, though the recent auction has strengthened Pakistan’s position within the upper tier of emerging telecom markets and enhanced its readiness for next-generation connectivity.
The auction itself marked a key milestone under the Digital Nation Pakistan initiative, with a total of 480 MHz spectrum offered across the 700, 2300, 2600, and 3500 MHz bands. More than 80 percent of the available spectrum was successfully allocated, with full uptake observed in the 2300 and 2600 MHz bands. Strong participation in the 3500 MHz band highlighted growing industry commitment toward the rollout of 5G services. The process was conducted through a transparent mechanism supervised by PTA, with international consultancy support from NERA Economic Consulting.
Three major telecom operators secured spectrum to expand their network capabilities and prepare for next-generation services. Jazz acquired 190 MHz across multiple bands to strengthen nationwide coverage, while Ufone obtained 180 MHz with a strong position in the 3500 MHz band to support high-capacity 5G deployment and fixed wireless access. Zong secured 110 MHz focusing on mid-band spectrum to enhance broadband performance. The auction generated approximately 507 million dollars in revenue for the government and is expected to improve network quality, enable faster internet speeds, and support the growth of digital services including artificial intelligence, fintech, and e-commerce as Pakistan advances toward nationwide 5G adoption.
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