The Ministry of Information Technology (IT) in Pakistan has initiated the groundwork for the forthcoming 5G technology auction. These sources reveal that the IT ministry has taken proactive steps to pave the way for the introduction of 5G services, issuing directives to the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) and other relevant departments.
The government is anticipated to secure substantial revenues from the auction of 5G spectrum licenses, with the auction itself tentatively scheduled for August 2024, as per the same sources.
Presently, mobile companies in Pakistan are utilizing approximately 367 MHz of spectrum. However, the impending spectrum auction promises to augment this bandwidth significantly, potentially surpassing 600 MHz, thereby ushering in a new era of enhanced connectivity and mobile technology for the country.
It is important to note that the timeline for the launch of 5G services in Pakistan, initially projected to materialize within 10 months, appears to face considerable challenges, chiefly stemming from local mobile operators' reluctance to procure 5G licenses amid economic instability.
Caretaker Federal Minister for IT and Telecommunication, Dr. Umar Saif, had previously expressed optimism about the swift deployment of 5G services in Pakistan within the aforementioned timeframe. This optimism was shared during a pivotal meeting between Dr. Saif and Chairman of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), Maj Gen (R) Hafeezur Rehman, where detailed discussions delved into the intricacies of telecommunications, the impending 5G auction, and the allocation of spectrum. However, the path to realizing these aspirations is beset with challenges that demand careful navigation in the coming months.