The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has officially announced a new date for the country’s long-awaited 5G spectrum auction, shifting it from the previously planned schedule.
According to official sources, the Auction Advisory Committee has decided to hold the 5G spectrum auction on March 10, 2026, revising the earlier government plan that had set February 26, 2026, as the auction date.
Decision Taken After High-Level Review Meeting
The decision was finalized during a committee meeting convened to review the auction framework, timelines, and stakeholder consultations related to Next Generation Mobile Services (NGMS).
The meeting was chaired by Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb and attended by Minister for IT and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja, along with senior officials from relevant ministries and regulatory authorities.
Officials reviewed spectrum availability, auction design, and procedural milestones before agreeing on adjustments to ensure the process is completed smoothly within the revised timeline.
Updated 5G Auction Timeline
Under the updated roadmap:
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Information Memorandum (IM) was issued on January 9, 2026
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Consultation period extended until February 6, 2026
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Final IM to be published on February 13, 2026
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Information session for bidders on February 16, 2026
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Application deadline (with pre-bid deposit): February 27, 2026, by 4:00 PM PST
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Qualified bidders list to be published on March 3, 2026
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Spectrum auction date: March 10, 2026
Spectrum Bands to Be Offered
The auction will cover low, mid, and high-frequency spectrum bands to support nationwide 5G deployment.
Expected spectrum bands include:
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700 MHz, 1800 MHz, and 2100 MHz (paired bands for wide coverage)
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2300 MHz and 2600 MHz (unpaired bands)
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3500 MHz, the globally preferred band for high-speed and low-latency 5G services
In total, approximately 597.2 MHz of spectrum is planned to be offered.
What This Means for Pakistan
Officials say the auction is a critical step toward Pakistan’s 5G rollout, enabling:
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Faster mobile internet speeds
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Lower latency
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Support for AI, smart cities, industrial automation, and digital services
After the allocation stage starting on March 10, the assignment phase will follow, after which provisional results will be announced.
Winning bidders will be required to submit performance bank guarantees within 15 business days, while commercial 5G services are expected to launch within six to seven months after license issuance, subject to regulatory and network readiness.
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