By Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan plans to auction about 600 megahertz of additional spectrum next month, a move aimed at easing a severe shortage that’s hampered internet speeds and delayed the country’s entry into the 5G era, a government minister said.
Shaza Fatima Khawaja, minister for information technology and telecommunications, speaking at a press conference in Islamabad on Friday, said the auction would involve seven spectrum bands, five of which are being offered in Pakistan for the first time.
The Economic Coordination Committee approved the process last week, with the federal cabinet greenlighting the broader framework. “The spectrum available for our telecom industry is extremely limited,” Khawaja told reporters, noting that mobile operators provide services using just 274 MHz. “We are a spectrum-starved country.”
She pointed out that Pakistan, with a population of 240 million, has one of the lowest spectrum availability levels in the region, especially given the absence of any major auction in recent years. Bangladesh, with about two-thirds of Pakistan’s population, has nearly 600 MHz, she added.
The additional spectrum spans six major bands: 700MHz, 1800MHz, 2100MHz, 2300MHz, 2600MHz and 3500MHz, according to a report from US-based consultancy National Economic Research Associates that was presented to the government in November. The 2600MHz band is seen as the most suitable for 5G.
Khawaja said the auction, expected to wrap up by the end of January or early February, would significantly boost 3G and 4G services within three to four months, while 5G is slated to launch within six months in provincial capitals including Islamabad.
She attributed persistent internet speed issues to the acute shortage, likening it to “trying to run four-lane traffic on a two-lane road.” The minister stressed that the government is collaborating with the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority and international consultants to adopt global best practices. “Our goal is not just faster internet, but future-ready connectivity,” Khawaja said.
She described the internet as “critical infrastructure,” akin to roads in the past, essential for social development, economic policies, national security and personal safety. “Without this level of connectivity, we cannot move forward.” The push aligns with the government’s digitization drive under the Digital Nation Pakistan Act, 2025, she added, positioning connectivity as an “enabling tool” to unlock economic potential and create jobs.
Pakistan ranks as the world’s fourth-largest freelancing economy, with its IT industry expanding at an annual rate of around 20% to 21%. The sector’s role in growth areas like education, healthcare, agriculture and exports.
The cabinet has also approved a policy for mobile virtual network operators, allowing new brands to enter the market by buying capacity from existing carriers rather than building their own infrastructure. This is expected to spur competition, lower prices and draw foreign investment. The PTA has also cleared district-level licenses for internet service providers, enabling local cable operators and small firms to offer services in villages, small towns and underserved areas. Khawaja said this would “democratize” fiber expansion and address rural connectivity gaps. On the international front, Pakistan has joined the world’s longest submarine cable system, SMW-6, with two more undersea cables set to come online this year. These additions aim to diversify routes and reduce vulnerability to disruptions, such as recent cuts in the Red Sea region.
Addressing questions on internet shutdowns, Khawaja clarified that any temporary suspensions are directed by the Interior Ministry for security reasons, not as an IT policy. “Human lives are more important than connectivity,” she said, emphasising that such measures are reserved for extreme situations.
The minister expressed confidence that the reforms would deliver “visible improvements” in internet quality within three to four months, framing them as transformational steps to secure Pakistan’s digital future. In South Asia, neighbors including Bangladesh, India, Bhutan, the Maldives and Sri Lanka have already deployed 5G nationwide, while Pakistan, Nepal and Afghanistan lag behind. The spectrum auction had been delayed by the merger of PTCL and Telenor, as well as litigation over the 2600 MHz band.
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