The Spectrum Advisory Committee will meet today (Friday) to finalise decisions for Pakistan’s first-ever 5G spectrum auction, as representatives of National Economic Research Associates (NERA) — the US-based consultancy hired by the government — have arrived in Islamabad to present their report, Business Recorder reported, citing official sources.
Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Muhammad Aurangzeb will chair the meeting of the Spectrum Advisory Committee, which is expected to draw the roadmap for the long-delayed next-generation auction, now tentatively expected in February or March 2026.
The NERA presentation will cover market readiness, spectrum valuation, pricing strategy, band allocation, rollout obligations and overall policy recommendations for Pakistan’s 5G framework.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had earlier set December 2025 as the deadline for the auction, but the unresolved PTCL–Telenor merger and court disputes over the 2600 MHz band have already pushed the schedule back.
The government initially planned to present 562 MHz for auction, but 140 MHz remains under litigation. Officials said spectrum across all ITU-designated 5G bands — 700, 2100, 2300, 2600, and 3300 MHz and above — is available and can be auctioned on a technology-neutral basis for both 4G and 5G.
Federal IT and Telecom Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja last month acknowledged that the rollout faces “serious jeopardy,” citing high input costs, the region’s highest sectoral taxes, low ARPU, dollar-based licence fees and unresolved litigation over the key 2600 MHz band. She warned these factors could delay or even derail the auction.
Telecom operators and the GSMA have cautioned that Pakistan could lose between USD 1.8 billion and USD 4.3 billion in economic gains over the next five years if spectrum release is delayed further.
Operators have pushed for lower auction prices than previous rounds, rupee-denominated spectrum fees, 15-year interest-free payment terms, and duty-free import of 5G equipment and smartphones. However, Pakistan’s IMF programme restricts such concessions.
GSMA has also flagged that spectrum costs in Pakistan are among the highest globally, consuming around 20 percent of operators’ revenues, and has urged regulators to prioritise long-term investment over short-term fiscal gains.
Pakistan currently operates with just 274 MHz of commercial spectrum — less than half the allocation available to regional counterparts and well below global norms. Industry officials say this shortfall is a key factor behind persistent network congestion, dropped calls and slow data speeds nationwide.
