ISLAMABAD:
The chairman of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority, Hafeez-ur-Rehman, said the country’s long-awaited 5G spectrum auction will take place tomorrow at 10:00 am, marking a major step toward next-generation mobile connectivity in Pakistan.
Speaking during a technical briefing ahead of the auction, the PTA chief said the purpose of the session was to explain the technical framework of the process and ensure sufficient network capacity for telecom operators.
He added that all participating telecom companies have hired their own consultants to assist in the bidding process.
According to the PTA chairman, a mock auction was also conducted in advance, during which telecom operators tested the auction software system.
“No company raised any concerns about the process during the mock auction,” he said, indicating that the system is ready for the formal bidding.
Rehman also sought to reassure consumers that the launch of 5G services would not automatically lead to higher mobile package prices.
“The PTA will ensure that mobile packages do not become more expensive with the introduction of 5G,” he said.
The regulator has also developed a digital assistant to facilitate users and help address public queries and complaints related to telecom services.
Responding to concerns about mobile phone taxes, the PTA chairman clarified that taxes imposed on mobile devices are not collected by the telecom regulator.
He said the authority receives numerous complaints from consumers regarding device taxation but added that tax policies are handled by other government institutions.
