The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has reached a significant milestone in the country’s journey toward launching 5G services by successfully concluding the Assignment Stage of the Next Generation Mobile Services (NGMS) spectrum auction. This crucial phase involved finalizing the exact frequency allocations within the auctioned bands, a step that is essential for telecom companies to efficiently plan and deploy their 5G networks across Pakistan.
During this Assignment Stage, the PTA meticulously allocated specific frequency positions to the participating operators, ensuring optimal use of the spectrum to support high-speed mobile services. In the 2600 MHz band, Jazz emerged as the largest holder, securing 70 MHz of spectrum, while Zong and Ufone each obtained 60 MHz. Meanwhile, in the 3500 MHz band, Ufone acquired a substantial 120 MHz, Jazz and Zong were allotted 50 MHz each, and 60 MHz of spectrum remained unsold. These allocations reflect the competitive nature of the auction and the strategic interests of each operator in expanding their network capabilities.
The auction itself was a major financial success, generating a total of $510 million (approximately Rs142.6 billion) for the national treasury. Jazz led the spending with spectrum purchases valued at $239.38 million, followed by Zong at $156.75 million, and Ufone at $113.47 million. This significant investment highlights the telecom sector’s commitment to advancing Pakistan’s digital infrastructure and bringing next-generation connectivity to millions of users.
With the assignment phase now complete, the telecom operators are poised to move forward with detailed network planning and the eventual rollout of 5G services. This development is expected to dramatically enhance mobile internet speeds, improve connectivity, and support emerging technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT), smart cities, and advanced digital services across the country.
It is worth recalling that the initial 5G spectrum auction took place on March 10, when Pakistan raised $507 million by selling 480 MHz of spectrum, just shy of the targeted 597 MHz. The auction attracted three major telecom players—Jazz, Zong, and Ufone—who competed vigorously for the available frequencies. The process concluded after three rounds of bidding, with the results formally announced by Hafeez Ur Rehman alongside Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja.
During the auction, 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 were sold, totaling 480 MHz of spectrum. Jazz secured the largest share with 190 MHz, including allocations across multiple bands—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 followed closely with 180 MHz, primarily in the 3500 MHz and 2600 MHz bands, while Zong acquired 110 MHz.
The PTA chairman described the completion of the assignment stage as a “historic and joyous milestone” for Pakistan, underscoring the country’s rapid progress in embracing digital transformation. He also praised the active participation of telecom operators, whose competitive bidding helped ensure fair pricing and a successful auction outcome. This achievement sets the stage for Pakistan to join the global community in adopting 5G technology, promising to revolutionize communication, business, and everyday life for millions of Pakistanis in the near future.
