Tech Desk 
Aug 22, 2024
Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) Chairman Major General (Retd) Hafeezur Rehman has revealed the auction date for 5G services.
The PTA chairman informed the NA Standing Committee on IT and Telecom that 5G will be launched by April 2025 as the authority is “actively” working to attract new companies to participate in the auction.
The move aims to expand the market and enhance competition, he added.
The chairman assured that despite the current challenges, including the ongoing recovery of the submarine cable — which may extend until August 27 — the planned system upgrades are not expected to cause further disruptions to internet services.
PTA chairman said telecom companies are currently utilising 265 MHz of spectrum. The regulator plans to make an additional 567 MHz available for 5G services, with efforts in place to persuade the government to offer this spectrum at a lower cost.
The chairman also noted that Saudi Arabia sold its spectrum at $90,000 per megahertz, while Pakistan previously sold 4G spectrum at $29 million per megahertz. The aim is to keep the cost of spectrum low to benefit local consumers, he stated.
