Pakistan Enters Final Round of 5G Auction as 3500 MHz Bidding Begins

Pakistan has entered the final round of the second phase of its 5G spectrum auction, with bidding underway to determine positioning in the 3500 MHz band.

The bidding process was formally launched by Federal IT Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja, IT Secretary, and the Chairman of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA).

PTA Chairman Hafeez Ur Rehman said that the bidding taking place today is for spectrum positioning. He stated that transparency has been ensured in the process on the instructions of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

According to the chairman, the bidding for positioning in the 2600 MHz band has already been completed, while bidding for positioning in the 3500 MHz band is currently ongoing. The results for both spectrum bands will be announced together.

Speaking on the occasion, IT Minister Shaza Fatima said that the first phase of the auction had already completed the purchase of spectrum bands, while the second phase is focused on determining the positioning of those bands.

She described the auction as historic, noting that such a large amount of spectrum had never been auctioned in Pakistan before. She said Pakistan had previously been operating on only 274 MHz of spectrum and was among the countries with the lowest spectrum availability.

According to the minister, Pakistan’s position has now improved from the lowest tier to the middle range. She added that the country has now entered the era of 5G.

Shaza Fatima said the development is good news for the entire country, especially the youth. She emphasized that technology is essential for sectors such as agriculture and healthcare, as well as for trade and the economy.

She added that technology is particularly important for security, noting that a significant portion of last year’s “Battle of Truth” involved cyber warfare and that Pakistan had also succeeded on the cyber front.

The minister acknowledged that the government is aware of challenges related to internet connectivity and said the spectrum auction will help address these issues.

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