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Pakistan is looking to double its woeful internet speeds by the middle of 2026, as per Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication, who briefed media regarding the upcoming 5G spectrum auction, in an exclusive briefing.
In the briefing, Shaza Fatima reiterated that 5G auction is being held with the help of NERA, an international consultants company for advice. The pricing of the auction is set to a standard which invites telecos an opportunity to reinvest in other aspects of the industry.
Shaza Fatima Khawaja said the government has completed much of the groundwork required to move forward, including spectrum planning, auction design, and coordination with regulators and telecom operators. The planned rollout is expected to initially focus on large metropolitan areas where demand, infrastructure readiness, and commercial viability are strongest, before expanding more broadly over time. The auction will be considered successful if more than 50% of 600 MHz spectrum auction is successful.
Mobile operators have repeatedly cited uncertainty around pricing, payment terms, and rollout obligations as barriers to investment. However, this time, there is a general push to bring 5G to Pakistan from the telecom sector itself.
The 5G launch is closely linked to the upcoming spectrum auction, which is being finalized following approvals from the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) and other relevant forums. The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) is expected to oversee the auction process and subsequent licensing, with an emphasis on transparency and market sustainability. Industry sources say auction structure and reserve pricing will be critical in determining how quickly operators can deploy networks after spectrum allocation.
The rollout is expected to bring faster speeds, lower latency, and improved network capacity, particularly in congested urban environments. Even if the frequency gets to 300 MHz as a beginning nudge, the speed will massively improve. Fatima said the government has repeatedly framed 5G as foundational infrastructure for productivity growth rather than a consumer luxury. The IT ministry envisions that the rollout will take around 4-6 months because much of the new infrastructure needs to be imported.
Fatima also laid out the challenges the government faced in bringing 5G seamlessly, particularly in the form of litigations and legal quandaries, as well as the delay in Telenor-PTCL merger.
She also accepted the dismal state of affairs of internet infrastructure in the country. Even Pakistan’s mobile sector has faced declining average revenue per user and rising operating costs, limiting operators’ ability to invest aggressively. A successful 5G rollout could help reverse that trend by supporting enterprise services and new revenue streams, though analysts caution that returns will depend on pricing discipline and realistic coverage targets.
On TechJuice’s question about satellite connectivity such as Elon Musk’s Starlink, Shaza Fatima said that the government and concerned institutions are looking to get a policy streamlined for satellite data regulation, after which these companies will be given the green light.
A mass 5G push has become the need of the hour, as it aligns with Pakistan’s digital transformation agenda. It aims to expand broadband access, attract foreign investment, and modernize public services. Many experts argue that delaying next generation connectivity further would risk widening the digital divide and reducing the country’s competitiveness in technology driven sectors.
