Tech Desk 
Dec 31, 2025
An undated image of PTA building. — PTA
Pakistan’s long-delayed 5G rollout has entered a crucial preparatory phase, with the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) finalising the draft Information Memorandum for the upcoming 5G spectrum auction.
According to reports, the document, which outlines auction rules, spectrum blocks, and financial terms, is ready but pending issuance until the federal government releases a formal policy directive.
Officials familiar with the process said the Spectrum Advisory Committee’s recommendations have already been approved, but the PTA has been waiting for the policy clearance for over a week.
The authority intends to finalise and publish the Information Memorandum as soon as possible, including the reserve price, rollout obligations, and licensing conditions.
The timeline for the auction will be tighter than previous spectrum sales. Local telecom operators will have less time to prepare and submit applications with financial guarantees, reflecting government pressure to avoid further delays.
PTA strives to hold the auction of 5G spectrum before the onset of Ramadan, and in this regard, it is trying to issue the memorandum this week with policy clearance.
The auction will feature about 600 MHz of spectrum across several frequency bands, including 194 MHz within the key 2600 MHz band for high-capacity 5G services.
Other bands include 700 MHz, 1800 MHz, 2100 MHz, 2300 MHz, and 3500 MHz, although the 2600 MHz and 3500 MHz bands have been earmarked as priority bands for high-speed, low-latency deployments.
In Pakistan, the 5G rollout is expected to facilitate mobile broadband, cloud services, fintech, industrial automation, and foreign investment.
