The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) on Wednesday announced it will hold the long-awaited 5G spectrum auction for mobile services on March 10, with services initially rolling out in federal and provincial capitals before expansion to other cities.
Addressing a press conference on the auction in Islamabad, PTA Chairman Hafeezur Rehman noted improved connectivity was critical to achieving a “Digital Pakistan” and promoting a cashless economy. He maintained that regulatory and policy reforms have been aligned to facilitate the rollout of next-generation services.
According to the PTA chairman, the government has eliminated the right-of-way fee, which had previously delayed fiberization projects. “This initiative, supported by the Ministry of I.T. and Telecom, ensures faster execution of infrastructure projects,” he said, adding telecom operators are aware of the benefits of early network deployment.
“Once licenses are issued, operators are unlikely to delay roll-out. They are already preparing business cases and investment plans, which will accelerate deployment,” he said, noting operators had already placed orders for 5G equipment, while local manufacturing of 5G-enabled smartphones has commenced, with 500,000 to 600,000 units produced so far.
Referring to Bangladesh’s experience, Rehman noted it had taken four years for operators there to fully understand 4G use cases. “In Pakistan, our focus is on enhancing 4G quality for the 90% of users currently relying on it. By efficiently utilizing available bands, we expect significant improvements in service quality,” he said.
The PTA chairman said the regulator had undertaken several measures to facilitate a faster roll-out of 5G services. “Operators have been given one year to make necessary capital investments without upfront spectrum payments, allowing them to focus on improving service quality,” he said, adding enhancing 4G connectivity would improve user experience and boost data usage, creating a positive cycle for operators and the broader telecom ecosystem.
“Our goal is to align Pakistan’s progress with regional best practices, while ensuring connectivity and quality for our population,” he said.