According to officials, the first round of bidding started on Tuesday, with three telecom operators participating in the auction process.
The participating companies include:
Jazz
Zong
Ufone
Earlier, Shaza Fatima Khawaja confirmed that the 5G spectrum auction would proceed as scheduled after mock bidding exercises were successfully completed with the participating telecom operators.
She noted that Pakistan currently operates on 274 MHz of spectrum, which often results in network congestion and connectivity issues.
Expanding the spectrum will help improve network quality and coverage across the country.
More Spectrum to Improve Internet Services
The government is offering approximately 600 MHz of spectrum in the auction, introducing four new frequency bands.
Under the policy:
Each telecom operator must acquire at least 100 MHz
A minimum of 300 MHz total spectrum will be added to the system
Officials say this will significantly improve internet speed, network stability and mobile coverage for consumers.
Key Frequency Bands for 5G
The policy requires telecom companies to acquire spectrum in the 3500 MHz and 2600 MHz bands, which are considered essential for launching 5G services.
For the first time, the 700 MHz band has also been offered, which is particularly useful for long-distance coverage and improved connectivity in populated areas.
Expected Revenue
The government expects to generate between $300 million and $700 million through the spectrum auction.
Bidding is expected to continue across several rounds until the spectrum allocation process is completed.