Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) completed the second phase of the country’s 5G spectrum auction on Thursday. Telecom operators competed for the positioning of two key frequency bands that will support the future rollout of 5G services.
According to officials, mobile companies submitted bids for the positioning of the 2600 MHz and 3500 MHz bands, both considered important for modern mobile networks. The bidding process for the 2600 MHz band concluded in three rounds, while the 3500 MHz band required five rounds, reflecting stronger competition among operators.
The second phase of the auction focuses on determining the exact placement of spectrum blocks within each band. Pakistan generated $510 million (around Rs. 142 billion) from the landmark auction of Next Generation Mobile Services (NGMS) spectrum, while the telecom regulator completed the position assignment auction to determine the exact placement of spectrum blocks secured by operators.
The announcement was made by Hafeez Ur Rehman, chairman of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority, during a press briefing following the completion of the multi-band spectrum auction process.
5G Auction Enters Fifth Round
The 5G auction has now entered a critical stage, with telecom companies competing for the positioning of the key 3500 MHz band, widely considered the backbone of 5G mobile networks.
According to officials, the bidding for the 3500 MHz spectrum has reached the fifth round, reflecting strong competition among mobile network operators.
In the previous round, companies chose to maintain their existing positions, indicating a cautious but steady approach as they evaluate their strategies in the auction.
Auction Enters Fourth Round
The auction has now entered its fourth round for the 3500 MHz band. In the earlier test rounds, telecom companies successfully maintained their positions.
So far, all three major telecom operators have shown active interest in the fourth round, signaling strong competition for the valuable spectrum.
The Third Round of 2nd Phase Begins
The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has started the second phase of the 5G spectrum auction, with bidding now underway for the 3500 MHz band.
In the first round, all three major telecom companies expressed interest, During the second round, all participating telecom operators maintained their previously held positions, showing strategic patience. In the third round, all three major telecom companies have expressed active interest, indicating a strong demand for the high-frequency spectrum.
The Second Round of 2nd Phase Begins
The last round of the second phase of Pakistan’s 5G spectrum auction has begun, with bidding now underway for the 3500 MHz band. Federal Minister for IT and Telecom Shaza Fatima Khawaja, along with PTA Chairman Major General (R) Hafeez Ur Rehman, inaugurated the bidding process.
PTA Chairman Hafeez Ur Rehman said that the bidding taking place today is for spectrum positioning. He stated that transparency has been ensured in the process on the instructions of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
Speaking at the event, Shaza Fatima highlighted that the spectrum allocation process for the previous bands had been successfully completed just days earlier, with a total of 498 MHz of spectrum purchased.
She added that the current last round focuses on positioning the 3500 MHz band, which is a crucial step toward strengthening the Digital Pakistan vision. She also added that technology and internet, are now essential needs, and in the context of national security, cyber warfare has played a significant role.
Meanwhile, the 2600 MHz band has now been finalized and has entered its last round of bidding.
2600 MHz Spectrum Positioning Finalized
Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has completed the bidding process for the 2600 MHz spectrum positioning in the second stage of the 5G assignment. All three telecom operators have selected their preferred positions for the 2600 MHz band.
The first round for 3500 MHz spectrum positioning is scheduled to begin at 12:30 PM, and the results for both 2600 MHz and 3500 MHz bands will be announced together once the process is complete.
2600 MHz Band Positioning
| Telecom Operator | Spectrum Position (MHz) |
|---|---|
| Jazz | 2500 – 2570 MHz |
| CMPak (Zong) | 2570 – 2630 MHz |
| Ufone | 2630 – 2690 MHz |
Operators Maintained Positions
All three telecom operators have placed bids for positioning within the 2600 MHz band. Competition among three operators, Jazz, Ufone and Zong continues as they vie for preferred positions in the band.
The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has now initiated the third round of bidding after operators maintained their positions and the process moved to the next stage.
PTA has now moved the process to the third round, following the operators’ decision to maintain their positions.
Stage 2
The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority’s (PTA) 5G spectrum assignment process advanced to the next stage after telecom operators maintained their preferred positions within the available frequency bands.
Pakistan’s spectrum assignment process for Next Generation Mobile Services (NGMS) or 5G moved into the second round of bidding after telecom operators showed interest in the positioning of spectrum blocks during the initial stage.
Bidding Price
In the second round, the bidding price has been set at $0.1 million, officials said. The price applies when two or more operators seek the same position within the spectrum band, triggering a competitive bidding process.
According to officials, the first round of the assignment auction concluded without any price attached, as operators were asked to indicate their preferred placement within the available spectrum bands. However, competing interests among the operators pushed the process into the second round.
The assignment exercise is part of the post-auction procedure conducted by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) to determine the exact placement of spectrum blocks acquired by telecom operators during the country’s recent multi-band 5G auction.
The ongoing assignment process will determine the final layout of frequencies before operators move ahead with network planning and preparations for launching 5G services.
