Pakistan raises $507 Million in 5G Auction as Jazz, Ufone, Zong secure spectrum

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Tuesday raised $507 million in its long-awaited 5G spectrum auction, as telecom operators Jazz, Ufone and Zong secured frequencies to roll out next-generation mobile services across the country, marking a significant step toward faster internet and enhanced digital connectivity.

The much-anticipated 5G spectrum auction, organized by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), concluded after three rounds, raising $507 million through the sale of 480 MHz of spectrum out of a targeted 597 MHz, with three major telecom operators—Jazz, Zong and Ufone—securing frequencies to roll out next-generation mobile services across the country.

The results were announced by PTA Chairman Hafeez Ur Rehman at a ceremony attended by Federal Minister for IT and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja, Federal Minister for Information Atta Tarar, and Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, who formally inaugurated the auction process at the start of the event.

According to the PTA, the auction included spectrum across multiple bands. The authority offered around 600 MHz of spectrum, out of which 480 MHz was successfully sold. This included two lots in the 700 MHz band, all five lots in the 2300 MHz band, all 19 lots in the 2600 MHz band, and 22 out of 28 lots in the 3500 MHz band.

In terms of allocation among operators, Jazz emerged as the largest buyer, securing a total of 190 MHz of spectrum. Its acquisitions included 50 MHz in the 3500 MHz band, 70 MHz in the 2600 MHz band, 50 MHz in the 2300 MHz band, and 20 MHz in the 700 MHz band.

Ufone acquired 180 MHz of spectrum, including 120 MHz in the 3500 MHz band and 60 MHz in the 2600 MHz band. Meanwhile, Zong secured 110 MHz in the auction.

The assignment stage, to determine specific frequency positions within each band, will be held on 12th March, 2026.

Speaking on the occasion, IT Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja congratulated stakeholders and the nation, describing the successful 5G spectrum auction as a major milestone for Pakistan’s digital future.

She said the government had made around 600 MHz of spectrum available for auction, adding that the process was conducted live to ensure transparency, in line with the directives of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

The minister noted that Pakistan had reached a “choking point” in terms of spectrum availability, and the newly released spectrum would significantly improve internet quality and digital connectivity across the country.

The IT Minister said 5G services are expected to be launched in five major cities by the end of the year, while consumers could start experiencing improved mobile internet speeds within the next few months as telecom operators begin network upgrades following the auction.

She also highlighted that spectrum vacated by the armed forces and other institutions played a crucial role in enabling the auction, making additional bandwidth available for commercial telecom services.

Addressing the ceremony, Information Minister Atta Tarar also congratulated the nation, saying that the entire world witnessed Pakistan’s transparent 5G spectrum bidding process.

He said the successful auction demonstrated that when the public and private sectors work together, the economy moves forward, describing the online bidding process as a reflection of confidence in government policies.

It is pertinent to mention that the auctioning of 5G spectrum in Pakistan is expected to pave the way for the rollout of next-generation mobile services, significantly improving internet speed, network capacity, and overall digital connectivity across the country. With additional spectrum now available to telecom operators, consumers are likely to experience faster data speeds, lower latency, and more reliable mobile services.

The introduction of 5G is also expected to support the expansion of digital services such as online education, remote work, e-commerce, telemedicine, and smart technologies, while helping strengthen Pakistan’s digital economy and boosting the growth of the IT and telecom sectors in the coming years.