Pakistan Set To Auction 600 MHz Spectrum Nationwide
Islamabad ( by Naeem Mehboob ) Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar, Minister of State for Information Technology and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima, and Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) Chairman Major General (Retired) Hafeez Ur Rehman held a background briefing on the upcoming 5G spectrum auction and related digital initiatives.
Telecom Companies Prepare For Pakistan’s Major 5G Auction
Speaking during the briefing, Shaza Fatima said that Pakistan has been operating its entire telecommunications system on 274 megahertz of spectrum since 1987. She noted that the limited spectrum capacity has served the country’s telecom sector for decades despite growing digital demands.
The minister announced that 600 megahertz of spectrum will be auctioned across the country, marking a significant development in Pakistan’s transition toward next-generation connectivity.
According to Shaza Fatima, the auction for the 5G spectrum will be conducted through specialized software. She said the entire process will be held live to ensure transparency and accountability in the bidding process.
She emphasized that the government’s objective behind the auction is to provide improved digital services to citizens and move Pakistan forward in the global digital landscape.
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“Internet today forms the foundation of our economy, security, and social life,” she said while explaining the significance of expanding telecommunications capacity.
Shaza Fatima also stressed the importance of designing an auction system that allows telecom operators to effectively deploy services rather than burdening them with excessive costs.
Using an analogy, she said that selling spectrum at extremely high prices could prevent telecom companies from building the necessary systems. She added that if spectrum remains unused despite being purchased, it can lead to financial losses estimated between three to four billion dollars.
The minister said the government had attempted to design the auction framework in line with international best practices while ensuring reasonable costs.
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She added that in many developed countries, spectrum is provided free of charge to encourage the expansion of telecommunications infrastructure.
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Shaza Fatima said the Spectrum Advisory Committee, chaired by the finance minister, had finalized the auction framework after detailed consultations.
She also noted that when Pakistan faced severe financial pressure in 2022 and approached the brink of default, telecom companies were unable to purchase network upgrade equipment. According to her, delays in network upgrades could have significantly affected internet performance across the country.
The minister added that the telecommunications sector has contributed approximately 1.6 trillion rupees to the national treasury over the past five years.
Chairman PTA Major General (Retired) Hafeez Ur Rehman said telecom companies participating in the auction have hired consultants to assist them during the process.
PTA Assures 5G Launch Will Not Increase Mobile Prices
He said all telecom operators tested the auction software during a mock auction and no company expressed any concerns regarding the system.
The PTA chairman also assured consumers that the introduction of 5G would not lead to an increase in mobile package prices.
He stated that the PTA will ensure that telecom operators do not raise prices following the launch of new services.
Hafeez Ur Rehman further said that the authority has introduced a digital assistant to facilitate telecom users and address consumer concerns more efficiently.
He noted that complaints from mobile users are regularly received by the PTA, and the authority continues to work on improving consumer services.
He also clarified that taxes imposed on mobile phones are not levied by the PTA, adding that the authority itself does not determine how much tax is applied to individual mobile devices.
Separately, the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) announced the launch of a Digital Ultimate Beneficial Ownership (UBO) Registry aimed at improving transparency in corporate ownership.
According to the SECP, the registry will maintain online records of the real owners of companies. All registered companies will be required to provide information about their ultimate beneficial owners.
Newly registered companies will submit ownership information through Form 1, while existing companies will provide the required details through the annual Form 19.
The SECP stated that the digital registry will help maintain transparent ownership records and support efforts to prevent the misuse of companies for illegal activities. The initiative is also aligned with anti-money laundering requirements.
