ISLAMABAD:
The first round of Pakistan’s 5G spectrum auction concluded on Tuesday, with strong bidding activity from telecom operators competing for key frequency bands, officials from the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority said.
According to PTA, bidding took place for two out of six available spectrum bands during the opening round of the auction process.
Director General Licensing Aamir Shehzad said that all three eligible telecom companies participated in the first round of bidding.
PTA officials said that in the 2600 MHz band, around 190 MHz of spectrum was available for auction. A total of 30 bids were received for 19 lots, indicating strong competition among operators. Authorities added that 11 additional bids were submitted for the band, prompting the regulator to move toward a revised price for the next stage of bidding.
In the 3500 MHz band, which is widely considered crucial for 5G services, 280 MHz of spectrum was offered. The regulator said 28 lots were available, out of which 20 lots received bids in the first round.
Officials said the second round of the auction will begin shortly and will run for approximately 30 minutes.
PTA also announced the results of the first phase of the auction, noting that demand for spectrum exceeded supply in several categories. In the 2600 MHz band, officials said there was additional demand of around 110 MHz, reflecting the growing competition among operators to secure frequencies needed for next-generation networks.
Due to the excess demand, the regulator has increased the spectrum price by 5 percent for the second phase of bidding.
Authorities say the ongoing auction is a critical step toward the rollout of commercial 5G services in Pakistan, expected to significantly enhance mobile broadband speeds and support the country’s expanding digital economy.
