The Ministry of Information Technology (IT) in Pakistan has initiated thegroundwork for the forthcoming 5G technology auction. These sources revealthat the IT ministry has taken proactive steps to pave the way for theintroduction of 5G services, issuing directives to the PakistanTelecommunication Authority (PTA) and other relevant departments.
The government is anticipated to secure substantial revenues from theauction of 5G spectrum licenses, with the auction itself tentativelyscheduled for August 2024, as per the same sources.
Presently, mobile companies in Pakistan are utilizing approximately 367 MHzof spectrum. However, the impending spectrum auction promises to augmentthis bandwidth significantly, potentially surpassing 600 MHz, therebyushering in a new era of enhanced connectivity and mobile technology forthe country.
It is important to note that the timeline for the launch of 5G services inPakistan, initially projected to materialize within 10 months, appears toface considerable challenges, chiefly stemming from local mobile operators’reluctance to procure 5G licenses amid economic instability.
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Caretaker Federal Minister for IT and Telecommunication, Dr. Umar Saif, hadpreviously expressed optimism about the swift deployment of 5G services inPakistan within the aforementioned timeframe. This optimism was sharedduring a pivotal meeting between Dr. Saif and Chairman of the PakistanTelecommunication Authority (PTA), Maj Gen (R) Hafeezur Rehman, wheredetailed discussions delved into the intricacies of telecommunications, theimpending 5G auction, and the allocation of spectrum. However, the path torealizing these aspirations is beset with challenges that demand carefulnavigation in the coming months.
