Pakistan Concludes 5G Spectrum Auction: 480 MHz Sold for $507 Million to Zong, Jazz and Ufone

The Government of Pakistan successfully completed its long-awaited 5G spectrum auction in Islamabad on March 10, 2026. A total of 480 megahertz (MHz) of spectrum was sold for $507 million after three rounds of competitive bidding. The primary focus was on the 2600 MHz band, crucial for 5G rollout, where the three major telecom operators — Zong, Jazz, and Ufone — placed strong bids. Zong secured 110 MHz, Ufone obtained 180 MHz, and Jazz acquired 190 MHz. The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) had initially offered various bands including 700 MHz, 1800 MHz, 2100 MHz, 2300 MHz, 2600 MHz, and 3500 MHz, with specific base prices per lot. Additional lots were made available in the 2600 MHz band, and the bid price was increased by five per cent after the first round. For the 3500 MHz band, only partial lots received bids. Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb attended the event and described the auction as an enabler for a ‘faster, cheaper, better’ digital future, supporting jobs, private sector growth, AI, blockchain, and Web 3.0 technologies. He linked it to austerity measures and resilience amid crises like oil shortages, enabling online education and remote work. IT Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja called it a historic day, noting Pakistan’s entry into 3G/4G under Nawaz Sharif but no major auctions since, leading to connectivity issues. She highlighted that spectrum availability would double from 274 MHz (used since 1997) compared to Bangladesh’s 600 MHz despite smaller population. Improvements in 4G quality are expected in four to five months, with 5G rollout in five major cities within five to six months. The government is also advancing satellite internet for remote areas, international cable linkages, fibre networks, and has abolished right-of-way charges — a first in Asia — to lower long-term internet costs.