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Islamabad: The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has officially confirmed a delay in the much-anticipated 5G spectrum auction, citing unresolved challenges that are likely to impact market response.
The announcement was made during a briefing to the Senate Standing Committee on Cabinet Secretariat, chaired by Senator Rana Mehmood-ul-Hassan. PTA officials, including the Chairman PTA, informed the committee that an American consultancy firm was engaged in November 2024 to support the rollout and auction process of 5G services in Pakistan.
Originally planned for April, the auction has been postponed due to key challenges highlighted by the consultants. According to PTA, unless these issues are addressed, the auction is unlikely to receive a favourable market reception.
One of the primary hurdles, the committee was told, is long-standing litigation that remains unresolved. Until the legal matter is settled, a formal and effective 5G auction cannot proceed.
The confirmation of a delay in the launch of 5 G is certainly going to hit the digital growth of Pakistan amid the taxation and quality assurance issues with the existing telecom companies.
